Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/632

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY


John Boiler, who was sworn into the Con- tinental service on April 8, 1779, in com- mand of Botetourt county troops, and there is also a record, dated 1792, of the commis- sion of John P)Oller as colonel of militia, in Bath county.

George Anderson Revercomb, son of Wil- liam Hubbard and Susan Pollinia (Boiler) Revercomb, was born in Bath county, Vir- ginia, October 18, 1858. His education, be- gun in the public schools of his native coun- ty, was continued in the Augusta Military Academy, from which institution he went to the University of Virginia, where he was a student from 1883 to 1885, inclusive, gradu- ating in the latter year I.L. B. In the year of his graduation he was admitted to the Virginia bar, but began active work in his profession in Webster county, Ohio, where he remained for one year, then returned to his native county. From 1886 until 1890 he v/as engaged in professional activity in Bath and Plighland counties, in 1890 moving to Covington, the capital of Alleghany county, Virginia, and there continuing in practice. Covington is still the scene of his legal work, and after a connection with this place of a quarter of a century his professional pres- tige is great and his practice large and flour- ishing. Elected commonwealth attorney of Alleghany county in 1895, so ably did he represent the county in legal proceedings that at the close of his four years' term he was returned to the office for a like time, his second term interrupted when half com- pleted by his election to the upper house of the Virginia legislature. He took his seat in the Virginia senate in 1901, and was a member thereof for four years. During this time he was a member of the committee of enrolled bills and general laws, and he was frequently heard from the floor of the senate chamber advocating measures he considered urgent and necessary. After the recodifica- tion of the laws of Virginia Mr. Revercomb applied himself energetically to securing much-needed reforms in the laws govern- ing elections throughout the state, and sup- ported strongly all legislation designed to meet this end.

Since returning to private life Mr. Rever- comb has given his general practice all of his time and attention, his one official connec- tion being as attorney for the Citizens' Na- tional P>ank, of which he is also a director. He is a member of the Virginia and Ameri-


can Bar Associations, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is a communicant of the Presbyterian church. His party sym- pathies are strongly Republican, and he was recently the candidate of his party for the attorney-generalship of Virginia. Of his legal capacity and ability his past achieve- ments are the best enconium, and during a professional career of varied aspects he has remained true to a high ideal and has con- stantly championed right and justice.

He married Elizabeth, daughter of Cap- tain Samuel F. Chapman, born in Fairfax county, Virginia, in 1873, the ceremony be- ing solemnized in October, 1894. Mrs. Rev- ercomb is a member of the Alleghany Chap- ter, Daughters of the Confederacy, and be- longs to the Baptist church. Her member- ship in the former organization she owes to the service in the Confederate States army of her father, who belonged to Colonel Mos- by's command. Captain Samuel F. Chap- man is now a minister of the Baptist church. He married a Miss Elgin, of Fairfax county, Virginia. Children of George Anderson and Elizabeth (Chapman) Revercomb: Wil- liam Chapman, born July 20, 1895 ; George Anderson, Jr., born August 11, 1896; Elgin Boiler, born in December, 1898, deceased; Horace Austin, born January 31, 1900; Ed- mund Gaines, born July 25. 1902 ; Paul Hus- ton, born April 25, 1904 ; Elizabeth F., born March 7, 1908. All of the above children were born in Covington, Alleghany county, Virginia.

Walter W. Rangeley, M. D. A native of Stuart, the capital of Patrick county, Vir- ginia, Dr. Rangeley has, since 1895, been a practicing physician of Christiansburg, the capital of Montgomery county, Virginia, that town noted as the seat of Montgomery Female College and for its iron and other industries. Dr. Rangeley is a son of James Henry Rangeley, born in Stuart, Virginia, in 1844, who is now the owner and manager of a large fruit farm, his orchard said to be the largest in Patrick county, a noted fruit growing section. Mr. Rangeley is a Con- federate veteran, having served four years in the war between the states. He was at one time captured by the Union forces and con- fined in Fort Delaware. After the war he returned to Patrick county, where he has taken front rank among the fruit farmers of