University of Virginia Library

STATE SENATORS.

WM. E. PETERS.

He was born in Bedford county, Virginia, August 18th, 1829. Received
academic training at New London Academy. Entered Emory and Henry
College in 1840, and graduated in 1848. Taught a

Wm. E. Peters.

private school at Lynchburg, and entered the University
in 1850. In 1853 he was elected to the chair
of ancient languages in Emory and Henry College,
filling this position until 1856, when a leave of absence
was granted him by the Board of Trustees and
he spent two years studying ancient and modern
languages at Berlin, Prussia; after which he resumed
his duties at Emory and Henry. He entered
the Confederate service as a private in April, 1861;
served as lieutenant of cavalry; later as captain,
lieutenant-colonel of infantry and colonel of the
Twenty-first Virginia Cavalry. After having been
three times wounded, he surrendered with his command at Appomattox
Courthouse. Was elected a member of the State Senate from this district
in 1863, which position some months thereafter he resigned. Professor of
Latin in the University of Virginia from 1866 to 1902.

JOSEPH J. GRAHAM.

The subject of this sketch was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather,
Robert Graham, emigrated to this country from the north of Ireland prior
to the American Revolution and settled in North Carolina, near Guilford
Courthouse. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and was so harassed by

Joseph J. Graham.

the Tories that he refugeed to what is now the eastern
portion of Wythe county, about twelve miles
east of Wytheville, where he accumulated a considerable
fortune. Jos. J. Graham was born on one of
the farms owned by his grandfather, near Max Meadows,
on the 16th of July, 1811. In his early life
he taught a country school. Afterwards he had employment
with his uncle (David Graham), who was
the pioneer in the iron industry in Southwest Virginia.
After remaining with him some years, he
went to Tennessee, where he was engaged in business
at the outbreak of the Mexican war. He went
with a body of troops to join Scott's column in
Mexico, and took part in the bombardment of the fortress of Vera Cruz.
After the Mexican war he returned to Wythe county, and for several years
was engaged with the late Colonel James Piper, of Wythe county, in locating
turnpike roads in Southwest Virginia. He was three times elected a
member of the Legislature from Wythe county, and once to the State Senate
from this district. He died April 9th, 1877, without issue.

HIRAM A. GREEVER.

Was born October 30th, 1806, and died the 23d day of May, 1882. He was
colonel of militia before the civil war, and served in the House of Delegates
from Smyth county. He afterwards served one term as a Senator in
the General Assembly from this district; after which

James S. Greever.

he retired to private life on his estate, in Smyth
county, a part of which was inherited from his
father, who was among the pioneers of Southwest
Virginia.

JAMES S. GREEVER.

General James S. Greever was born September 9th,
1837, and died December 30th, 1895. He was educated
at Emory and Henry College, and was an
honor graduate in the year 1859. The degree of
Master of Arts was conferred upon him in 1867 by the same institution.
When war was declared he entered the Confederate service as captain of
Company A, in the Forty-eighth Virginia Infantry. In 1869 he was elected
to the Senate from Smyth and Washington counties. He was reëlected at
the expiration of his first term, serving through the administrations of
Walker and Kemper. During this period he married an only daughter of
Mr. Richard Woolfork Scott, of Prince Edward county, Virginia, and left
one child, Miss Virginia Holmes Greever, who, with her mother, survives
him. General Greever was elected a member of the Board of Trustees of
Emory and Henry College in 1875, which place he held until his death. He
also served on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Virginia Hospital,
at Marion. He filled other responsible positions, being for years agent for
the large and valuable property known as the "Douglas Lands." When he

David F. Bailey.

died he was president of the Bank of Glade Spring, and
it was largely through his influence that this bank
commenced operations. He died at his home, "Westview,"
a fine estate lying along the banks of the Holston
river, near Chilhowie, Virginia, where his wife
and daughter still reside.

DAVID FLOURNOY BAILEY.

Born January 23d, 1845, in Charlotte county, Virginia.
Came to Bristol before the civil war, where he
has since resided. Learned the art of printing in the
office of the Bristol News and at one time owned and edited that paper.
Was a private Confederate soldier in Company A, Thirty-seventh Virginia
Infantry, and later in the cavalry service. Studied law at Cumberland
University, Lebanon, Tennessee, and began the practice of his profession in
July, 1869, at Bristol. Was married February 29th, 1872, to Sarah Eleanor

Preston, daughter of John F. Preston, of "Locust Glen," Washington county,
Virginia. He represented Washington county in the Legislature of Virginia
1879-1880, and was chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Was Senator
from Washington and Smyth counties in 1881-1885. Was Republican
nominee for Congress in 1884, and was defeated by C. F. Trigg. Was Assistant
United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia during
Harrison's administration. Was a delegate from this district to the National

E. L. Roberts.

Republican Convention at St. Louis in 1896,
and placed in nomination General James A. Walker
for Vice-President of the United States. Was the
Republican elector from this district in the year
1900, and at the present time is referee in bankruptcy
for this division.

E. L. ROBERTS.

The subject of this sketch was born at Broad Ford,
Smyth county, Virginia, April 4th, 1831. Was
educated in the common schools of the county, and
held the position of Superintendent of Schools for
Smyth county before the war. Soon after the war
he was elected clerk of the county and circuit
courts of Smyth county, which position he held for six years. Was twice
elected a member of the House of Delegates from Smyth and Bland countius.
Was elected a member of the State Senate from this district in the year
1889. Has served as school trustee, sheriff and justice of the peace.

B. F. BUCHANAN.

The subject of this sketch was born in Smyth county, Virginia, and
graduated in the academic department of the University of Virginia in 1880

B. F. Buchanan.

and the law department in 1884. Was elected a member
of the State Senate from this district, serving
from 1893 to 1897. Was a delegate to the National
Democratic Convention in 1900, and has been a member
of the State Democratic Committee for ten years.
Was Grand Commander of the

Charles W. Steele.

Grand Commandery of Knights
Templar of Virginia for the
years 1901-1902. Now practices
law at Marion, Va.

CHAS. W. STEELE.

The subject of this sketch was
born at Steelesburg, Tazewell
county, Virginia, July 24th, 1858. Married and settled
in this county. Was land assessor in 1895. Elected
a member of the State Senate from this district, and
served from 1897 to 1901.

J. CLOYD BYARS.

The subject of this sketch was born at his father's farm, "Southern
View," in Washington county, Virginia, on December 9th, 1868. Located at
Bristol in 1891. Admitted to the bar in 1896. Was

J. Cloyd Byars.

elected City Attorney for Bristol in 1899. Was defeated
for Mayor of Bristol in 1900, and was elected
to the State Senate from the First Senatorial District,
composed of the counties of Smyth and Washington,
in the year 1901, which position he now fills.