Mary Johnston (p. 9): born 1870: distinguished writer and liberal; notable in achievement; national fame. Privately tutored, finishing school.

family: father: lawyer, major, railway president.
father's father: minister in small towns.

Evaluation: Father ranks above grandfather. Subject given aristocratic education, turned attention to writing and organization. High achievement status.


Albert Hudgins Hill (p. 14): born 1866; sup't. of Richmond public schools; member of social clubs; recipient of honors, nationally known in education.

family: father: accountant, major, board of deacons; status, upper middle class.
mother: Virginia Byrd Hill.
wife: daughter of city treasurer of Lynchburg.

Evaluation: Information available pertains chiefly to professional activities of subject; father definitely of honored and respectable status.

George R. B. Michie (pp. 19 and 30): born 1870; bank president at Staunton; editor; private school and college training; associated with leading persons.

family: father: editor, attorney, "man of influence."
father's father: writer, lawyer, "ablest Michie."
mother: Virginia Bedinger Michie.
father's grandmother: Dorothy Johnson, sister of C. Johnson, who sat with Madison and Jefferson on U. of Virginia's board of visitors.

Evaluation: A perfect example of prominent Virginia family no broken, beaten back, or "destroyed" by the War between the States; an instance of social class continuity, par excellence.


Stuart Bowe (p. 25); born 1874; private schooling, Richmond College and the U. of Vir.; lawyer; member of prominent clubs; status high.

family: father: leading real estate broker at Richmond; wealthy.
father's father: planter and country gentleman.
father's mother: "Mary Ursalla Ellis, a descendant of John Pleasants of 'Curles' and Richard Cooke of 'Bremo'."
father's father: planter and country gentleman.
brothers and sisters: two died young; one married an attorney; three succeeded to real estate business; one a "tobacconist"; one a widwo of Col. Hodges, U.S.A.; one a graduate of Johns Hopkins and now a doctor.

Evaluation: A planter family turns toward business and become successful in real estate; some marry well; two take up professions. On the "tobacconist" is shrouded in mystery.


Francis C. Fitzhugh (p. 29): born 1838 a middle class merchant of nominal and respectable standing.

family: mother: "great debt to good mother for her teaching and influence."
distant ancestors: the planter, lawyer,, burgess, high-sheriff family of Fitzhughs.

Evaluation: This descendant was a man of modest means and status. He did not retain the same standing as his more distant forebears, neither did he take his place among the "shirtsleeves."


Paul Brandon Barringer (pp. 34 - 35): born 1857; private schooling and university training, M.D., noted physician and educator; status very high.

family: father: General Rufus, U. of N.C., lawyer.
father's father: General Paul, politician, industrialist.
mother's father: educator, founder of Davidson college.
father's brother: 25 on Int'l court of appeals, Alexandria.
mother's sisters: wives of Stonewall Jackson, General D. H. Hill, and N.C. supreme court justice Avery.
sons: three served as officers in U.S.A. (two captains and one lieut.), one on Hoover relief administration.
daughters: two nurses in war service -- no further data.

Evaluation: One of Virginia's leading personages comes of two lines of illustrious citizens. There is no evidence of social mobility here.

Richard Hewlett Smith (pp. 41 - 42): born 1859; private schooling, financier, pillar of society.

family: father: banker, engineer, university training, deacon.
mother's father: "personal friend of Lafayette."
mother: Margaret Strother "member of old and distinguished family."
mother's father: cashier and treasurer.
brothers: one Rear Admiral William Strother Smith, '80; one honor graduate of Vir. military institute, d. at 23.
mother's brother: professor at U. of Vir., and founder of Strother university school.

Evaluation: two families, both of upper middle class, at least, combine to establish a family, all the sons of which achieved similar status. Only the slightest fluctuation visible here.


Benjamin L. Dillard (p. 47): born 1857; private schooling and U. of Maryland leading surgeon and citizen of Scottsville.

family: father: Republican postmaster; "once largest taxpayer in county." Merchant.
mother: privately tutored.
brothers and sisters: one minister, one lawyer, one doctor, one wife of doctor, two unmarried daughters, one wife of person of unknown occupation.

Evaluation: Father middle class merchant of grade school education. His status is relatively high, locally, in economic life and political office. The subject himself was given a good education, and his brothers and sisters were correspondingly successful.