University of Virginia Library

COUNTY JUDGES.

REUBEN MURRELL PAGE.

Reuben Murrell Page was born at Abingdon, May 7th, 1843. In May,
1861, went into the Confederate army as a member of the Washington
Mounted Riflemen (under command of Captain, afterwards General, William
E. Jones), which company became Company "D" of the First Regiment

Reuben Murrell Page.

of Virginia Cavalry. Was severely wounded
near Newtown, in Frederick county, November
12th, 1864. Was licensed as a lawyer in February,
1868, after reading law in the office of Campbell &
Humes from the fall of 1865 and serving as deputy
clerk of the County Court, under Major Jas. C.
Campbell, for about fourteen months. Was married
November, 1868, to Miss Mary Crawford, of
Abingdon. Was the first county judge of Washington
county, being chosen to said position in
April, 1870, and reëlected in 1873, continuing in
that office until the beginning of the year 1880.
Was Grand Master of Masons of Virginia, December,
1881, to December, 1883. In 1881 became associated with Colonel Abram
Fulkerson in the practice of law, under the name of Fulkerson & Page,
which law firm afterwards became Fulkerson, Page & Hurt.

JUDGE GEO. W. WARD, Jr.

Son of Geo. W. Ward. Born at Winchester, Va., July 31st, 1847. Educated
at the Virginia Military Institute. Took part in the battle of Newmarket
in May, 1864. Studied law in the law school of Judge Richard

Geo. W. Ward, Jr.

Parker at Winchester and at the University of Virginia.
Licensed to practise law, and settled at Springfield,
Missouri, in the year 1872. Came to Abingdon in
1874, began the practice of his profession, and became
the editor of the Abingdon Virginian. In the year 1880
he was elected judge of the County Court of this
county, which position he resigned before the expiration
of his term. He subsequently filled the office of
Commonwealth's Attorney, and was thereafter twice
elected county judge, which office he held at the time of
his death. He became ill of pneumonia, and died on
the 21st day of January, 1897. Judge Ward was a
scholarly man, was able and energetic, and was recognized
as an accurate, painstaking and honest lawyer. He married Miss
Rosalie Preston, daughter of the Hon. Walter Preston, who, with her son
and daughter, survived him.

JUDGE DAVID CAMPBELL CUMMINGS.

David C. Cummings.

Son of David C. and Eliza White Cummings. Born
June 23d, 1861, in Abingdon. Served as deputy clerk
of the County Court of Washington county from
April, 1882, to July 1st, 1887. Was elected clerk of
the County Court of Washington county, and served
as such from July 1st, 1887, to February 1st, 1897.
Commissioned judge of the County Court of Washington
county February 1st, 1897, and at the present
time occupies this position. For many years a commissioner
of accounts, and served as president of the
Board of Directors of the Southwest State Hospital,
Marion, Virginia, from 1894 to 1898.