446
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
ical matters, however, were not neglected
by him, and he served as presidential elector
on the Democratic ticket of 1892. The excel-
lent work which Mr. Prentis had been doing
had not remained unnoticed, and in 1895
he was chosen as being the most suitable
man for the judgeship to be filled by the
legislature. He was reluctant to abandon
his extensive and lucrative practice, but
yielding to the solicitation of his friends he
ultimately gave his consent, and has now
for many years ranked as one of the ablest
judges on the bench. In the fall of 1900 he
was a strong candidate for the supreme
bench of Virginia, but was defeated by an-
other distinguished judge, the Hon. Staf-
ford G. Whittle, chairman of state corpora-
tion commission. In 1901-1902 the judicial
circuits were redistributed, and Judge Pren-
tis was reelected to the circuit bench. Judge
Prentis identifies himself with the people at
large, and joins with them in attacking prob-
lems involving the common welfare. He is
a Democrat from conviction and principles.
Political mistakes and errors of judgment
may be attributed to him by some; dishon-
esty and unworthy motives by none. There
is no fear that on any issue involving a prin-
ciple he will place himself in a doubtful posi-
tion — that he will allow himself to be divert-
ed from his course by either the lures or the
threats of any class as opposed to the whole.
He is a man of ideals and the fact is recog-
nized — ideals of civic government and civic
development toward which he endeavors to
lead the way by such steps as may be prac-
ticable in the changing conditions of the
times. Of attractive personality, Judge
Prentis is democratic in his intercourse with
men, without a sacrifice of dignity. In his
more intimate circle he is genial, responsive
and unreserved. His friendships are many,
and highly cherished. Judge Prentis mar-
ried, January 6, 1887, Mary Allen Darden,
of Suffolk, who died in 1904. They had one
child who is also deceased.
George Withy Hayes, M. D. This branch of the Hayes family of X'irginia has been seated in Isle of Wight county for several generations and there Dr. George Withy Hayes, of Franklin, \'irginia, was born. He is a grandson of Timothy Hayes, a soldier of the Confederacy, Mahone's brigade, and son of Captain William Riddick Hayes, born in Isle (^f Wight, \'irginia, in 1866. Captain
Hayes was a seafaring man engaged, how-
ever, in navigating the waters of V^irginia
and the Carolinas. Timothy Hayes married
Lavinia Darden. of an old prominent and
wealthy Isle of Wight family, her father
owning a plantation of one thousand acres
and many slaves. Captain William R.
Hayes married Elizabeth Withy, born in
Isle of Wight county, Virginia, daughter of
Captain George Withy, who came from
England to Boston, Massachusetts, thence
to Norfolk, Virginia, son of Charles Withy,
of Berkshire, England.
Dr. George Withy Hayes, of Franklin, Virginia, was born in Isle of Wight county, Virginia, January 8, 1889, son of Captain William R. and Elizabeth (Withy) Hayes. He acquired a good preparatory education in the public and private schools at Frank- lin, Virginia, and Franklin Military Acad- emy, winning high honors and distinction as orator, and essayist at the latter institu- tion. He was lieutenant of his company, prize orator and medalist, and prize essay- ist, his themes being "The Destruction of San Francisco," and "Honesty is the Best Policy." After finishing a four years' course at Franklin Military Academy, he entered in the fall of 1906 the Medical College of Virginia, whence he was graduated Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1910. From June, 1910, until October, 191 1, he was in- terne at the Hospital of St. Vincent de Paul at Norfolk, Virginia, then located in Frank- lin, Virginia, for the private practice of his profession.
He is a member of the Virginia Medical Society; Southampton County Medical So- ciety, of which he is assistant acting secre- tary ; Virginia Southside ^Medical Society, of which he is vice-president, and has on various occasions prepared and read papers of medical value before these associations of learned men. He has been a member of the Franklin board of health for two years, and is deeply interested in this place of civic regulation of the public health. His college fraternity is Phi Beta Phi. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist church, the Woodmen of the A\"orld, and politically a Democrat.
Dr. Hayes married, November 15, 191 1, Miss David Kathleen Holland, daughter of D. A. and Josie (Saunders) Holland, of Franklin, \'irginia. Both Mr. and Mrs. Holland are natives of Virginia and de- scended from old \'irgfinia families.
