Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/796

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY


ceived an honorable discharge from that service at the termination of the struggle. He was a successful merchant, a respected citizen, and passed an honorable and useful life. He married Martha Ann Sarah Smith, (laughter of Elisha Smith. Elisha Smith married a daughter of the family of Dowell, a native of Virginia, her father one of the largest land owners in Albemarle county, Virginia. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones: Alice A., of whom further ; Cortez B., a resi- dent of Richmond, Virginia; Edna Terrell, married John B MacDowell, and lives in Roanoke, Virginia ; Charles Henry, de- ceased ; Emma Lee, deceased ; Judge James Buckner, deceased ; Martha Susan, deceased, married Benjamin Z. Crenshaw.

Alice Adrienne Jones, daughter of Charles Edmund and Martha Ann Sarah (Smith) Jones, was born at Centerville, Louisa county, Virginia, October 2, 1851. She was educated under the tutelage of a governess, subsequently attending the Piedmont Fe- male Institute, and in 1872 married, in Albe- marle county, \irginia, Augustus James Pyle, since making her residence in the city of Richmond. Augustus James Pyle was born in Richmond, Virginia, and died there March 14. 1882. aged about thirty-nine years. He founded the business continued at the present time by Mrs. Pyle, but three years afterward death removed him from his 1 osition at its head. At that time ]\Irs. Pyle, a young woman and unexperienced in lousiness matters, assumed the management and direction thereof, and has since con- ducted it, the concern under her official leadership ascending to a position of promi- nence in its line in the state, now ranking as the largest in Virginia. The business is lo- cated at No. 315 and 317 North Fifth street, where it occupies a building of three stories and a basement, finely and modernly equipped with machinery for steam dyeing, scouring, and carpet cleaning. Mrs. Pyle's employees number between forty-five and fifty, and, other than the usual work of such an establishment, several departments have lieen added that greatly widen its field of activity. Eight years ago the importation and sale of surgical goods was instituted, and corsets of high grade were made to order, these features attracting favorable at- tention. A display of the Richmond Steam Dyeing and Carpet Cleaning Works at the Exposition of the Virginia State Agricultural


and Mechanical Society in 1888 was awarded a first prize. Mrs. Pyle has proven her merit as a business woman, and in compe- tition with others in her line has asked no favorable discrimination. The exercise of native talents, close attention to the needs and wants of those to whom her establish- ment caters, wisdom and judgment, and the maintenance of a business of the highest class, tell the story of her success, for which no degree of credit can be excessive. .She has been well advised and aided by com- petent assistants, but her spirit and person- ality has pervaded the entire works, and as proprietress she accepts whatever of praise or censure falls thereto.

Mrs. Pyle Is the mother of four children: -Martha Augusta married Sydney I'utnam Owens, of Richmond ; Wade Hampton, married Laura Crenshaw, of Savannah, Georgia ; Robert Lee. resides in Richmond ; Ashby Barnes, resides in Richmond.

Gabriel Wise Worrell, Ph. B. Few men

of his years have been able to compress into the first thirty years of their lives so full a record as has Mr. Worrell. As a sergeant of cavalry in the United States, serving in the Philippines, around the world traveler, a college graduate and editor, leader of the independent progressive thought of his city and one who has suffered for his independ- ence, Mr. Worrell may justly claim that since leaving his Carroll county home in 1901, his years have been well accounted for. His mind, broadened by his travel and strenuous experience, is a determined one, and the blows he has received in defence of his convictions have but rendered him the more determined to fight with all his power of tongue and pen, all forces that oppose better civic government. Like all progres- sive men who dare attack the old order, he has made bitter enemies, but as chairman of the Progressive Club of Radford, he has won the regard of many more who rate him as one of the potent forces for good in the community. He wields an influence through his own personality, equal to that of his newspaper, the "Record-Advance." and as editor and citizen, is ever a force dreaded by those opposed to him in municipal govern- ment.

Gabriel Wise Worrell was born in Carroll county, Virginia, July 9, 1882, son of Josiah Worrell, born in Carroll county, in 1843,