Accomack Co-Northampton Co-Norfolk (city), Virginia, USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....
Colonna, Charles Jones 1849-1920
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Alice Warner http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003503 July 10, 2008, 3:50 pm

Author: Lyon G. Tyler LLD

COLONNA, CHARLES JONES, marine railway and ship builder, was born in Accomac
county, Virginia, August 27, 1849. His parents were John Wilkins and Margaret
(Jones) Colonna. His father, a planter and also a sea captain, was noted for his
kindness, honesty, and close attention to business. The earliest ancestors in
this country emigrated from Italy, about 1625, and settled in the section now
comprised in Accomac and Northampton counties, Virginia. They claim to be
descendants of the noble Colonna family and left Italy on account of religious
persecution. 

In childhood and youth Charles Colonna lived in the country. He was well and
strong and with the exception of having a special liking for mechanics his
tastes and interests were those of the average boy of his time and locality. He
went to the county free schools but was not able to attend any of the higher
institutions of learning. When school was not in session, he was obliged to
regularly perform the various kinds of farm work, and after his school days
closed he remained at home for awhile and continued the same kind of labor. 

When he was about eighteen years of age he left the farm for the sea. He sailed
before the mast in the schooner C. C. Sadler for two years and then enlisted on
the coast survey steamer Bibb, as carpenter. He retained this position for about
eighteen months when he resigned and went to Chicago and found employment as a
ship carpenter with Miller and Brother. Later he worked in the same line in
Canada, Michigan and Virginia. In 1876. when twenty-seven years of age, he
commenced business for himself in Norfolk, Virginia, and with borrowed capital
built a marine railway with a capacity of about forty tons. For a time the tide
set against him. The capacity of his railway was so limited that he could haul
only small boats and the percentage of profit on this business was very low. For
two or three years the outlook was dark and Mr. Colonna was almost discouraged.
But his wife was wise and helpful, and very largely because of her energy,
economy and constant encouragement, he was enabled to go on. As a result of
perseverance and constant and careful oversight his business increased and in
five years from the time he commenced he found it necessary to enlarge his
plant. As the one he was using was on leased property he was obliged to secure
another location. He purchased the place which he now owns and put in a plant of
five hundred tons capacity. His prosperity steadily increased, and after using
the new plant six years he was obliged to greatly enlarge his facilities. He
then put in a railway with a capacity of two thousand tons. Not long afterward
one of his competitors wished to sell, and in 1899 Mr. Colonna bought the John
L. Thomas plant. Three years later he purchased the shipyard adjoining his own,
which was the property of Mr. W. A. Graves, by whom he had once been employed.
At the present writing, he has five marine railways in operation; three on the
Eastern branch and two on the Southern branch. For a long time after he
commenced business he employed only about fifty men, but now, as for several
years past, he has from one hundred to three hundred men constantly at work. He
has built eleven transportation barges, and one seagoing steamer which bears his
name. But experience has taught him that shipbuilding in his locality is not
profitable. Consequently, he keeps his yards almost entirely for the purpose of
repairing, and with his five marine railways he repairs on an average some six
hundred and fifty vessels per year. 

In estimating the relative strength of certain influences upon his success, Mr.
Colonna says that " Character founded upon early home influences has been
principally developed and molded by contact with men in active life." In the
daily press he has found the reading which has been most helpful in his efforts
to win success. His principal recreations are found in driving, bicycling,
automobiling and boating. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks, and of the Knights of Pythias, fraternities, while of civic bodies he
is a member of the Norfolk Business Men's association and of the Norfolk chamber
of commerce. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but in later years, he has
been identified with the Republican party.

His religious affiliation is with the Protestant Episcopal church, in which he
has been a vestryman for twenty years. In reply to a request that he would, from
his own experience and observation, offer suggestions to young Americans
regarding the principles, methods and habits which he believes will contribute
most to the strengthening of sound ideals and will most help young people to
attain success in life, he says, " Young men should choose the occupation which
they feel they are best fitted for, and then if they are temperate and
persistent they will win success. Industry, temperance and honor are the best
fortunes they can possess." Mr. Colonna has been twice married; first, on March
20, 1877, to Margaret O. Dunston ; and second, on January 30, 1902, to Fannie C.
Fentress. Of his seven children, six are living in 1906.

His address is Norfolk, Virginia.

Additional Comments:
From Men of Mark in Virginia: Ideals of American Life by Lyon G. Tyler LLD, 1907.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/accomack/bios/colonna119gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vafiles/

File size: 5.9 Kb