History of Floyd County Virginia United States of America

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Robley Dunglison Evans, naval officer, was born in Floyd county, Va., Aug. 18, 1846; son of S. A. J. and Sally Anne (Jackson) Evans; grandson of Samuel Evans, and of John Jackson, and a descendant of John Sommersall. He was graduated from the United States naval academy in May, 1863; promoted ensign, Oct. 1, 1863; master, May 10, 1866; lieutenant, July 25, 1866; lieutenant-commander, March 12, 1868; commander, July 12, 1878, and captain, June 27, 1893. In September, 1863, he began active service, on the frigate Powhatan, and was afterward in the North Atlantic squadron, taking part in the assault upon Fort Fisher. In this engagement he Was wounded and subsequently retired from active service. Upon his recovery he was restored to the active list at his own request and sailed for China in 1866, in the Delaware, the flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Rowan., Upon his return to the United States he was given ordnance duty till 1870. He was then stationed at Annapolis for two years, and in 1872 was sent to the Mediterranean as navigator of the Shenandoah. He returned in this vessel to Key West upon the threatened outbreak of war between the United States and Spain in 1874; was transferred to the Congress as executive officer, and returned to the Mediterranean, where he remained till ordered home to attend the inauguration of the Centennial exposition in Philadelphia. In September, 1876, he was given signal duty in the navy department at Washington, and in November of the same year was placed in command of the training ship Saratoga, serving till 1880. He was equipment officer at the Washington navy yard, 1880-81, then a member of the first advisory board, and upon a resolution offered by him to that board, steel was adopted as the material for the construction of all future war vessels built by the United States. He was inspector of the 5th lighthouse district, 1882, 1884; inspector of bridge material with the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, 1884; and again inspector of the 5th lighthouse district, 1885-87. In 1887, when Secretary Whitney began the building of the new navy, Evans was detailed as chief inspector of steel, made out specifications, and organized and put into operation the scheme for government inspection of all material going into the new ships. He was then appointed secretary of the lighthouse board and to superintend the construction of the U. S. battle-ship Maine. In 1889 he obtained leave of absence and erected a sulphite fibre mill at Appleton, Wis., for the manufacturing investment company of New York. He commanded the Ossipee for a short time, then the Yorktown, in command of Bering Sea fleet, and on July 19, 1894, was assigned to the cruiser New York. On Nov. 20, 1895, he was placed in command of the battle-ship Indiana, and superintended the completion of that vessel. From the Indiana he went to the lighthouse board in January, 1897, where he remained till March 25, 1898, when he was placed in command of the battle-ship Iowa, with which vessel he took an important part in the blockade of the Cuban ports and in the destruction of Cervera's fleet, July 3. 1898. He was advanced five numbers for his services at Santiago, and on Feb. 11, 1901, was promoted to rear-admiral. He married Charlotte, daughter of Frank Taylor, of Washington, D.C.; great-granddaughter of Gen. Daniel Morgan, and a sister of Capt. Harry Taylor, who in 1898 was commander of the battle-ship Indiana; and of Capt. Daniel Morgan Taylor of the ordnance department, U.S.A. Of their children, Charlotte was married to Charles C. Marsh, flag secretary to Admiral Sampson on the New York (1898); and Frank Taylor was a midshipman on the Massachusetts. Their two daughters, Mrs. Marsh and Miss Virginia Evans, became volunteer nurses in 1898. He published his memoirs in 1901.

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

Posey Green Lester, representative, was born in Floyd county, Va., March 12, 1850. He remained on his father's farm until 1870, attending the district school in winter, and completed his education in the public school after 1870. He taught for a time in a literary and vocal school, and became an Old-School Baptist preacher in 1876. He travelled and preached in eighteen states. He wasa Democratic representative from the fifth Virginia district in the 51st and 52d congresses, 1889-93. He became in 1883 an associate editor of Zion's Landmark, an Old-School Baptist monthly established by D. P. Gold, Wilson, N.C., and also assisted in the publication of a hymn and tune book for use in the Old-School Baptist church.

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

History of Floyd County Virginia

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