MRGIXI A ISIOGRAPHY
55
James, killed in Earley's Valley campai|^n
during the civil war ; Samuel Puryear ; Mar-
tha Elizabeth ; Benjamin Alben ; Mary
Louisa.
(IV) William Henry Henson, eldest son of Benjamin and Mary Puryear (Wade) Henson, was born at the Henson homestead near Poindexter, Louisa county, Virginia, August 15, 1840. A part of this farm he now owns. Most of his life was spent in farm- ing and teaching, for which latter vocation he was well prepared, having been educated in private schools and the University of A'irginia. For a few years, however, he was engaged in railroad construction. The even tenor of his early life was disturbed by the war between the states. He enlisted in the Confederate army in 1863, serving in the Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry until that regi- ment and the Fifth \^irginia Cavalry had be- come so depleted that they were merged on November 8, 1864. He then served until the surrender in the Fifth Regiment, Lomax brigade, Fitz Lee's division. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. He married Marie An- toinette Hoge, born June 28, 1837, near Staunton, Augusta county, Virginia, at the home of her father. Rev. Peter Charles Hoge (see forward). Child, James A\'illiam, of whom further.
(V) Dr. James William Henson, only child of William Henry and Marie Anto- inette (Hoge) Henson, was born in Scotts- ville, Albemarle county, Virginia, October 3, 1863. at the home of his grandfather, Rev. Peter Charles Hoge. He was reared to youthful manhood at the home of his par- ents, near Poindexter, Louisa county. He was educated at public and private schools near home until he was thirteen years of age, then attended Green Spring Academy, Dr. C. R. Dickinson and son teachers, then attended Hawkwood Academy, both in Louisa county. He then entered Hoover's Select High School, a military school at Staunton, Virginia. He next attended Rich- mond College (Baptist) for one and a half years. He then spent two years entirely free from college work, but clerked in a store at Louisa Court House and taught in the public schools there. He then returned to Richmond, entered the Medical College of Virginia, whence he graduated Doctor of Medicine, class of 1889. After graduating he served as interne for a short time at the
City Flospital, but resigned before his term
expired and began the practice of medicine
in Richmond. In this work he has con-
tinued, though for several years he has been
wedded to surgery. During the period of
his practice he has been intimately con-
nected with both medical colleges of Rich-
mond. He was elected adjunct professor
in the Medical College of Virginia, seven or
eight months after graduation, filling that
position for several years. After the estab-
lishment of the University College of Medi-
cine, he was elected assistant demonstrator
of anatomy, a position he filled for a year
or two, then was chosen professor of anat-
omy. This chair he filled for several years,
then for one year was professor of anatomy
and genito-urinary diseases. He was then
elected to the chair of surgical anatomy,
which he tilled until the burning of the col-
lege in 1910. After the reorganization of
the institution he was elected to the chair
of principles of surgery and when the Uni-
versity College of Medicine was consoli-
dated with the Medical College of Virginia,
he was elected associate professor of sur-
gery, which chair he now fills. Pie is also
local assistant surgeon of the Southern
Railroad for Richmond, Virginia. He is a
Democrat in politics, but beyond serving as
surgeon on the staff of the City Hospital
since 1908 has had no public ofifice. For
about twelve years he was surgeon of the
F"irst Battalion of Artillery, Virginia Volun-
teers, holding the rank of major, but re-
signed a few years ago. He is an honorary
member of the Phi Chi fraternity, member
of Richmond Academy of Medicine and Sur-
gery, Tri-State Medical Association of the
Carolinas and Virginia ; Medical Society of
Virginia, Association of Surgeons of the
Southern Railway, American Medical Asso-
ciation and Association of Military Sur-
geons of the United States. In religious
faith he is a Baptist, the church of his fore-
fathers.
Dr. J lenson married, at Monument Church, Richmond, Virginia. July 7, 1898, Xellie Alexander Parker, born in Richmond, June 24. 1869, daughter of William Watts and Ellen Jane (Jordan) Parker, and grand- daughter of Colonel StafTord ]\I. and Sarah (Pearson) Parker. Colonel Stafford M. Parker was a distinguished lawyer, for some time register of the land ofifice, prominent in politics and speaker of the \^irginia house of
