University of Virginia Library

RONALD RANDOLPH FAIRFAX

Ronald Randolph Fairfax, a lineal descendant of
Lord Fairfax, was born in Amherst County, at Harris
Creek, Virginia, on August 22d, 1870. His parents
were Raymond and A.
E. (Buford) Fairfax, of
whom five children survive,
three sons and two
daughters.

Ronald Randolph
Fairfax attended the
public schools of Amherst
and Lynchburg
and the Lynchburg High
School in his youth.

He started his business
career as shipping
clerk for Winfree Sons
& Maupin, tobacco manufacturers.
Later he
went with Shaffer &
Roberts, hardware dealers,
Lynchburg, remaining
with this firm five
years, and when they sold their business to the Clark
Hardware Company, he accepted a position with the
new concern and remained with them until December,
1896, when he came to Roanoke and established a
hardware store under the firm name of Fairfax Brothers.
Associated with him was G. P. Fairfax, who sold his
interest in the firm in 1901. R. R. Fairfax, with L. L.
Bell, of Lynchburg, conducted the business for a
period of three years, under the firm name of Fairfax
& Bell. This establishment was later sold to the
Roanoke Hardware Company.

Mr. Fairfax then engaged in the real estate business
in Roanoke, under the firm name of R. R. Fairfax
& Company and, at the present time, conducts the
business in Room 106, First National Bank Building.
He has been identified with the upbuilding of
Roanoke and vicinity in many ways. He organized
the Roanoke Cotton Mill Company and for several
years was its President; he was also President of the
Columbia Collieries Company, in McDowell County,
West Virginia, and was Secretary and Treasurer of the
Pearl Coal Mining Company. In October, 1910, he
organized the Villa Heights Corporation and is Secretary
and a director of that institution. In 1903,
when the People's National Bank was organized, he
was one of the prime movers in that financial enterprise.
He is, at present, Secretary and Treasurer of
the English Investment Corporation, owners of the
Garden City Lands and Rocky Dale Heights.

When the Board of Trade was organized in Roanoke,
some fourteen or fifteen years ago, he was a member
of that organization and its Vice President for a period
of two years, and is at present a