Albemarle-Richmond City-Loudoun County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Massey, William Walter 1855 - 1903
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Joy Fisher http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 24, 2008, 12:20 am

Author: Leonard Wilson  (1916)

WILLIAM WALTER MASSEY

WILLIAM WALTER MASSEY, son of Dr. John E. Massey, belonged to that class which
is recognized by all intelligent men as the very backbone of the nation. His
entire manhood life was spent as a farmer and pomologist. Liberally educated by
attendance upon the usual preparatory schools in his native County, and then by
a course at Richmond College, he entered upon his career with a love for the
work, combined with the natural intelligence and the attainments which made it
impossible for him to fail.

    Mr. Massey inherited a full share of the ability of his family, and in the
generations preceding him his forbears had possessed most unusual gifts as
preachers, teachers, farmers and business men. They had been among the leaders,
successful in whatever they undertook, and had maintained always the high
character which had marked them through all their generations in the State. He
had the strong convictions which were a family characteristic. A Democrat in his
political beliefs, and never a seeker after public position, he yet took a keen
and active interest in politics. He was an active member of the Baptist Church
and gave liberally of his time to Sunday-school work. One of his cherished
desires he was never able to gratify. He had a great passion to be a soldier,
and was profoundly regretful that he was but a small child during the Civil War
and could not do his share therein.

    Throughout his all-too-short life, W. W. Massey was a great reader, and his
reading took a very wide range. Consequently he was a man unusually well
informed, and no private citizen of his community was held in higher regard for
his personal qualities than he.

    Mr. Massey was married at North Garden, Albemarle County, Virginia, on
October 8, 1884, to Mary Henry Edge, born at North Garden on June 18, 1864,
daughter of Philip and Annie Eliza (Clark) Edge. Of this marriage the children
are Annie Edge Massey; John Edward Massey, who is now the manager of his
father's estate; Philip Kable Massey, who is now managing the estate of his
grandmother Edge; Joseph Clarence Massey, now in the student period; and Mattie
May Massey.

    Mr. W. W. Massey lost his life in a railroad accident on November 23, 1903,
at the age of forty-eight years, nine months and twenty-two days. Of his
brothers and sisters, but one survives at the present time-Mrs. W. H. Kable, of
Woodsboro, Maryland.

    During his father's term of office as Auditor of the State of Virginia, he
served as one of the clerks in that office, and was one of the most efficient
members of the staff. His father had for him a great partiality, and left upon
him the burden of settling up his estate. In all the relations of life, the
distinguishing feature of W. W. Massey's life was an undeviating fidelity to
every obligation. He was a devoted son, husband and father, and his greatest
happiness in life was found in the environment of home.

    The present home of the family was the former home of President Monroe, and
has attached to it historical associations of a most interesting sort.

    The Massey Coat of Arms is described as follows:

    "Quarterly, gules and or, in the first quarter a lion passant argent."


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MAKERS OF AMERICA
BIOGRAPHIES OF LEADING MEN OF THOUGHT AND ACTION

THE MEN WHO CONSTITUTE THE BONE AND SINEW OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND LIFE

VOLUME II

By
LEONARD WILSON,
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ASSISTED BY PROMINENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WRITERS
Illustrated with many full page engravings
B. F. JOHNSON, INC.
CITY OF WASHINGTON, U. S. A.
1916

Copyright, 1916
by
B. F. Johnson, Inc.

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