History of Virginia United States of America

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John Floyd, governor of Virginia, was born in Jefferson county, Va., April 24, 1783; son of Col. John Floyd. He attended Dickinson college and studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 1804-06, receiving his M.D. degree in 1806. He settled in Blacksburg, Montgomery county, Va., was made justice of the peace, 1807; major in the state militia, 1808; surgeon in the Virginia line, 1812, and a member of the house of delegates the same year. He was promoted brigadier-general in the state militia and represented his district in the 15th-20th congresses inclusive, 1817-29. He was an advocate of states rights; opposed the administration of John Quincy Adams; advocated the occupation of Oregon in 1820; and the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828. He was governor of Virginia, 1830-34. During his administration he opposed the policy of President Jackson in the threatened nullification measures of South Carolina in 1832 and recommended a convention of the states, but did not justify nullification. He was the same year named by the delegation from South Carolina at the national Democratic convention as the choice of that state for the presidency. He put down the insurrection of 1832 among the slaves led by Gabriel Turner, and caused the execution of the leader. He was married to Letitia, daughter of Col. William Preston, an officer in the Revolutionary army, who was wounded at Guilford Court House, N.C. Governor Floyd died at Sweet Water Springs, Va., Aug. 15, 1837.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Harvie, delegate, was born in Gargunnock, Scotland, emigrated to Virginia colony and settled in Albemarle county where he practised law. By appointment of the general assembly of Virginia he was a commissioner to treat with the western Indians, after their defeat at Point Pleasant, Oct. 10, 1774. He was a member of the Virginia conventions of 1775 and 1776; a delegate to the Continental congress, 1777-1778; signer of the articles of confederation; register of the land-office of Virginia, 1780-91; secretary of the commonwealth, 1788; and an extensive builder in Richmond. While erecting the celebrated Gamble mansion he fell from a ladder and was killed. He died in Richmond, Va., Feb. 6, 1807.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Hay, representative, was born in Millwood, Va., Jan. 9, 1856; son of William and Emily (Lewis) Hay; grandson of James and Eliza (Burwell) Hay, and of James Smith and Rebecca Shoemaker (Rawle) Lewis; and great grandson of William Hay, who came to America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1745, and landed at Norfolk, Va., where he married first Elizabeth Cary, daughter of Miles and niece of Archibald Cary, and secondly, Elizabeth Thompkins, cousin of his first wife. James Hay was educated at private schools in Maryland and Virginia, at the University of Pennsylvania, and at the Washington and Lee university, Va., and was graduated in law from the last named institution in June, 1877. He practised law in Harrisonburg, Va., 1877-79, and in Madison, Va., from 1879. He was elected attorney for the commonwealth in 1883, and re-elected in 1887, 1891 and 1895. He was elected to the house of delegates of Virginia in 1885, was re-elected in 1887 and 1889, and was elected a state senator in 1893. He was a member of the Democratic state committee for four years, was a member of the Democratic national convention of 1888, and was a representative from Virginia in the 55th-58th congresses, 1897-1905.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Lawson Kemper, governor of Virginia, was born in Madison county, Va., June 11, 1828; son of William and (Allison) Kemper; and a descendant of John Kemper, who arrived in Virginia in 1714, and was a member of one of the twelve families from Oldenburg who received grants from Gov. Alexander Spotswood to lands at Germania, Va.; and of John Jasper Stadler, a colonel of engineers on General Washington's staff. He was educated in his native county and was graduated from Washington college, Lexington, Va., in 1842, and then studied law under George W. Summers, of Charlestown, Va. He was commissioned captain in the volunteer army by President Polk in 1847, and served during the Mexican war. He was a representative in the Virginia legislature for ten years, was speaker of the house two years, and chairman of the committee on military affairs. He was married, July 4,1853, to Miss C. Conway, daughter of Belfield and Crimora (Jones) Cave, of Virginia. He was appointed colonel of the 7th Virginia regiment in May, 1861; served at the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861; at the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31 to June 1, 1862, and was commissioned brigadier-general at Fair Oaks. He fought in the battle of Gaines's Mill, June 28, 1862; Frayser's Farm, June 80, 1862; Groveton, Aug. 29, 1862; South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862; Antietam, Sept. 16 and 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 2 and 3, 1863, where he was wounded. On recovering from his injury he was detailed to command the troops in and about Richmond, Va., and was promoted major-general, March 1, 1864. On the evacuation of Richmond, April 2, 1865, he returned to the practice of law in Madison county, Va. He was presidential elector-at-large on the Liberal Republican ticket in 1872, and was elected governor of Virginia by the Democratic party, serving, 1874-78, and at the close of his term engaged in farming in Orange county, Va. He published a volume of messages to the legislature (1876). He died in Orange county, Va., April 7, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Virginia

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