Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/623

4. 1913, when he was elected commonwealth attorney of the city of Clifton Forge, entering upon the duties of that office, January 1, 1914, for a term of four years. He is one of the youngest men who have ever held that office, but his lack of years is counterbalanced by unusual ability, legal knowledge and a natural legal mind that has quickly developed under study and experience. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar Association, a member of the Greek letter fraternity, Kappa Alpha, and in political faith a Republican. Mr. Wilson is unmarried.

Major Christopher Valentine Winfree. The Winfree family of Virginia, worthily represented for many years by the late Major Christopher Valentine Winfree, is an old and honored one, its members in the various generations performing well their parts in the different spheres, exhibiting traits of character which have been transmitted in large degree to their descendants, and which have aided materially in their success in life. Major Winfree is directly descended (on his mother's side) from the Pells and Van Tuyls, of New York, and MacCalmonts and Chambers, of Pennsylvania, all of which lines may be traced back many years in their respective countries, England, Holland, and North Ireland.

(I) Valentine Winfree, who died July 22, 1796, was a resident of Chesterfield county, Virginia, where he was a planter and landholder. He married Martha Johnson, who bore him four sons: Valentine, see forward; Reuben, Major, James.

(II) Valentine (2) Winfree, son of Valentine (I) and Martha (Johnson) Winfree, was born July 15, 1762. He resided in Ches- terfield county, Virginia, and was a planter, which occupation he followed throughout his active career, achieving a large degree of success. He married, January 3, 1783, Lucy Cheatham; eleven children: 1. Nelson, born October 24, 1783; married a Miss Vairden; four sons and four daughters. 2. Christopher, see forward. 3. Valentine, born October 27, 1787; married a Miss Lafon; four sons and two daughters. 4. Martha Johnson, born February 11, 1790. 5. Lucy Hobson, born November 18, 1791. 6. Polly Cheatham, born January 7. 1794. 7. Thomas, born November 23, 1796. 8. Margaret, born. March 7, 1798. 9. Robert Burton, born March 2, 1800. 10. Elizabeth Owen, born January 27, 1803; married, January, 1824, John Dance. 11. William Washington, born October 15, 1806.

(III) Christopher Winfree, son of Valentine (2) and Lucy (Cheatham) Winfree, was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, October 23, 1785. died December 12, 1858. He was reared and educated in his native county, residing on the old plantation until 1803, in which year he went to Lynchburg, Virginia, where he engaged in the tobacco business and continued in the manufacture of tobacco throughout the active years of his life. He conducted an extensive business in this country and exported largely to Europe. He was one of the pioneer business men of Lynchburg, and he took an active interest in the early enterprises of that city. He married (first) Polly Warwick, daughter of William Warwick, who bore him three daughters: Louisa Ann, Lucy Adeline, Martha Caroline. He married (second) November 19. 1817. Cornelia Meyer Tilden (see Tilden), who bore him seven children: 1. Mary Cornelia, born January 30, 1819; married, July, 1842, Thaddeus H. Ivey; one son, William Christopher, born April 22, 1843, married, December 20, 1871, Emma Walton Moorman, who bore him two children Lillian, born September 1, 1873, died December 20, 1881, and Edwin Clark, born. December 30. 1874. 2. Jane Margaret. born July 18, 1821; married. May, 1845, Edward S. Brown (see Brown). 3. Catherine Virginia, born 1824. 4. Christopher Valentine, see forward. 5. John Bell Tilden, born May 8. 1829; married, December 16, 1857, Ann E. Pennington. 6. Virginia Elizabeth, born November 19, 1831. 7. Robert Nelson, born February 29, 1835, died February, 1844.

(IV) Major Christopher Valentine Winfree, son of Christopher and Cornelia Meyer (Tilden) Winfree, was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. November 14, 1826, died June 18, 1902. After passing a bright and happy youth on the old home place just outside the city of Lynchburg, on the Campbell Court House Road, Major Winfree went to the Virginia Military Institute to complete his education and was there graduated in the year 1848. Adopting civil engineering as a profession. he secured his first employment in connection with the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, now the Norfolk & Western. He assisted in the construction of that