Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/120

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

()0


VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY


Marshall, born I'ebruary ii, 1874, in Rich- mond, \'irginia ; was educated at Miss Mary Baldwin's school, Staunton, Virginia ; mar- ried. November 21. 1901, at Richmond, Cole- man W'ortham ; and has three children : Cole- man Wortham Jr.. Mary Hoge Wortham, Anne Scott Wortham. 3. Marshall Madi- son, born September 12. 1878, died July 2, 1879. at Richmond, Virginia.

Mr. Gilliam and his family are members '.)f the Second Presbyterian Church of Rich- mond. ' He has been an elder of that church since 1875, also clerk of its session; was superintendent of the Sunday school thirty- three years, and is generally an active church worker. He was president of the Ginter Park Residents' Association for sev- eral years. W hile at the University of Vir- ginia. 1865-67, he was a member of the Washington Society, also served as its presi- dent ; and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Greek letter fraternity there ; is now a member of the Westmoreland Club at Richmond, Virginia.

Ernest A. Hoen. While American in- genuity and inventiveness have gained for the citizens of the United States a wide- spread reputation, these faculties have fre- quently been advantageously supplemented by the sterling worth of the traits inherent in the natives of other countries, who have come to these shores. This has notably been the case with the -inhabitants of Ger- many, whose careful attention to detail and deliberate care in whatever they undertake cannot be overestimated. A case in point is the Hoen family, of Richmond, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland, an admirable rep- resentative of which, Ernest A. Hoen, of Richmond, Virginia, the first American born of the family, has recently passed away. August, Ijerthold and Ernest Hoen, and their cousin, Henry Hoen. were the original emigrants who came to America in 1832 and located in [Baltimore.

Ernest A. Hoen was l)orn in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1851, died at Atlantic City, New Jersey, in April, 1914, having gone to that resort with the hope that the change of climate and surroundings would be of bene- fit to his im})aired health. That hope was futile, for an attack of i)neumonia suddenly ended his life. Mr. Floen acquired excellent advantages in the schools in his natixe city, and these he supplemented throughout his


life by wide and diversified reading. He was a musician of marked ability, and enter- tained an ardent love for music of a high standard. As a business men his reputation was unassailable. The firm of A. Hoen & Company, which was established by his father, August Hoen, is the oldest and one of the large lithographing plants of the country. After completing his studies at Loyola College. Ernest A. Hoen became as- sociated with his father in the conduct of this important enterprise, which had been established in 1835. In 1876 a branch was established at Richmond, Virginia, and this was placed in charge of Ernest A. Hoen, who was the active supervising head until his death. In some instances this business house has done some of the most important work of this kind ever performed in this country. The firm was founded by Edward \\'eber and August Hoen, under the firm name of Edward Weber & Company, and in the early forties Mr. Weber died, and Au- gust Hoen admitted his brother Ernest and his cousin Henry as partners, and the pres- ent name of the firm was adopted. In 1839 the firm printed the first show cards in colors produced in the United States, and in 1842 they lithographed the maps and illus- trations for Fremont's Reports, believed to be the first lithographic work used in con- nection with the United States congres- sional reports, which have since proved such a fruitful source of sup})ly to the litho- graphic art. Many of the improvements and advancements in the art have originated with A. Hoen & Company. The inventions of August Hoen are today the basis upon which the trade is enabled to do their work at commercial prices. He devoted his en- tire time to scientific research as applied to his trade. In 1880 the firm erected the Hoen building in IJaltimore, especially for their business, and when this was destroyed by fire in 1901 removed their plant to another location. The l)uilding in Richmond is similar to the one in B)altimore. The firm employs some five hundred people. Ernest A. Hoen inherited in rich measure the busi- ness ability of his father, and his progres- sive nature enabled him to make the most of all the modern inventions which could apply to his art. As stated above, he was an cirdent lover of music, and was a valued member of the Wednesday Club and the Philharmonic Orchestra, and also a member