Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/490

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894


VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY


hard battles of the war, including first and second Manassas (Bull Run), Winchester and Gettysburg. General Lee said of Clark's battery that it used more ammunition than any other battery in the Confederate army. Mr. Kline marritd Generva, daughter of Watson Carr Peery, who resided near Stras- burg, Virginia. \\'atson Carr Peery married a Miss Shamliaugh.

Leslie Duncan Kline, son of Snowden Be- dell and Generva (Peery) Kline, was born at Vaucluse, Virginia, October 22, 1871. He obtained a good preparatory education in pri\-ate schools in Frederick county and in Captain James W. Larrick's private acad- emy in ;\Iiddleton, Virginia. He prepared for a professional life at Virginia Poly- technic Institute, which he entered in 1891 and from whence he was graduated Bach- elor of Science, class of 1895. He then pre- pared for the profession of the law, in the law department of the University of Vir- ginia, where he was a student 1901-03. He never practiced, however, but as soon as his college term was ended he located at Ste- phens City, Virginia, and engaged in scien- tific farming and stock raising. He has ad- vanced to the very front rank in the agri- cultural world of Virginia and is a leader in the modern methods of operating a farm. He formerly served on the board of directors of the X'irginia State Farmers' Institute and is president of the Central Frederick Farm- ers' Club of Stephens City, both active and valuable farmers' organizations. Mr. Kline makes a specialty of Duroc-Jersey Swine, is a member of the American Duroc-Jersey Swine Breeders' Association and secretary and treasurer of the Virginia Duroc-Jersey Swine Breeders' Association. He is also a noted poultry fancier, specializing in barred Plymouth Rocks and mammoth bronze tur- keys. His kennels of Scotch collie dog^ are also noted ones and in all these branches he has won high reputation as a successful breeder and is an authority undisputed. He contributes largely to the literature devoted to farm and field, his articles attracting wide- spread attention. He is a fine type of the educated, energetic farmer, bringing to his aid all that science and investigation has learned concerning modern farming and stock raising. But farming does not en- tirely absorb his energy or interest. From 1908 to 1912 he was a member of the board


of visitors of the Virginia Polytechnic In- stitute, is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Protestant Epis- copal church, and is interested in the work of all. His fraternity is Phi Delta Phi.

Mr. Kline married. November 18, 1909, Jessie, daughter of Gervis Francis and Au- gusta (Hailman) Mayers, of Stephens City. Child, Frances Carr, born in Richmond, Vir- ginia, July 25. igii.

Reuben Conway Macon. The Virginia history of the progenitors of Reuben Con- way Macon, of Orange, Virginia, leads to early days in the province and to connec- tion with the noted families, Madison, Con- way, and with many others. Colonel James Madison, of "Montpellier," Orange county, Virginia, son of Ambrose and Frances (Tay- lor) Madison, grandson of John Madison and great-grandson of John Madison, who on January 4, 1653, patented six hundred acres of land in Gloucester county, Virginia, married Eleanor Rose Conway, born in Car- oline county, Virginia, January 9, 163 1, daughter of Francis Conway, son of Edwin Conway, who came from England to Vir- ginia in 1640.

This Colonel James Madison owned an estate of five hundred acres in Orange coun- ty, called "Montpellier." There all but one of his children were born. His eldest son. James Madison, after a distinguished career as scholar and statesman, was elected fourth president of the United States. Sarah Cat- lett, the second sister of President Madison, married Thomas Macon, of Orange. James Madison Macon, named for his illustrious uncle, was born at "Montpellier," the presi- dent's ancestral home.

, The early history of these families teem with men of colonial and revolutionary im- portance as soldiers and statesmen. They were large landowners, and while profes- sional and public men abounded there were always many in each generation who were agriculturists. The Macon family came to Virginia in the seventeenth century, and on June 24, 1703, there was a suit pending in York county, Virginia, between Nathaniel West and Martha, his wife, executrix of Gideon Macon, "late of New Kent County deceased," and Richard Packe, of London, merchant. Gideon Macon's daughter Mar- tha married Orlanda Jones and was the