University of Virginia Library

WILLIAM A. FRANCIS

One of the most interesting officers of Roanoke
County is Mr. William A. Francis, Commissioner of
the Revenue for the First District, which comprises
the town of Salem and
Salem and Catawba districts.
Twelve years
ago, Mr. John A. Francis,
father of the subject
of this sketch, was
a candidate for the office
of Commissioner of
the Revenue. Just before
the day of the primary,
he died. The
son at that time was
employed in the office
of the "Salem Times-Register,"
where he
had worked from boyhood
learning the
printer's trade. Although
but twenty-four
years old, he determined
to enter the race in his father's place, and
immediately announced his candidacy. His fine
character, upright life, his bright and pleasant manners
had already won him the confidence of his community
and much popularity among the people generally.
From the very outset, his candidacy attracted
attention and aroused much interest, and on
every hand he received the strongest kind of encouragement.
When the vote was counted it was
found that he had been nominated, and soon thereafter
elected, perhaps the youngest man who ever
held so important an office. At this time the county
was three hundred and fifty Republican. History
scarcely furnishes an instance where a man of twenty-four
has been made Commissioner of the Revenue
of a large, populous, and prosperous section of country.
Possibly when he entered upon his term of
office some persons might have been inclined to predict
that he was too youthful to properly discharge
the duties of the position, but they speedily found
themselves mistaken, for Mr. Francis proved to be
a most valuable man. His conduct of the office has
been eminently satisfactory to the public. As a
matter of fact, it is the consensus of opinion that the
county could procure no man who could more worthily
or efficiently look after and solve the many
difficult problems with which a Commissioner of
the Revenue is confronted.

The second time he defeated his opponent six to
one in the primary, and was reölected in the general
election without opposition. At the expiration of
his second term he was appointed by th