Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Colonna, Charles Jones  February 20, 1920
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Dorothy Strawhand https://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008405 July 24, 2021, 6:23 pm

 Virginian Pilot and The Norfolk Landmark February 21, 1920

                      MARINE RAILWAY OPERATOR DEAD

    Charles J. Colonna Was One Of Best Known Ship Repair Men On Coast

Charles Jones Colonna, retired marine railway operator and ship builder and 
one of Norfolk's best known citizens and business men, died at the family  
residence, 801 Colonial Avenue, at 1:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon.  The 
descendant of a very old Virginia family, he was born in Accomac County, 
Va., August 27, 1849; the son of John Wilkins Colonna and Margaret Jones 
Colonna.  His father was a farmer and vessel owner.
The earliest ancestors of the Colonna family came from Ireland in 1625.  The 
will of the first member of the family in America, Owen Colony, was recorded 
in Accomac County Courthouse in 1650.  The name was originally spelled 
"Colony," but was changed to its present spelling in 1835.  Mr. Colonna 
remained in Accomac County until his eighteenth year, attending the county 
free schools, but being prevented from attending any of the higher 
institutions of learning because of the Civil War.  The war wiped out the 
family's possessions and when hostilities ceased he left his home and for 
the next two years earned his living as a hand before the mast.
After leaving that position he enlisted in the coast and geodetic service as 
ship's carpenter on the ship Bibb, remaining in that position eighteen 
months and then resigning and going to the Great Lakes, where he was 
employed on a number of different ships and had many thrilling experiences, 
having been shipwrecked more than once.  Afterward, he came to Norfolk and 
secured employment with the marine railway of W.A. Graves, which was at that 
time on the Norfolk side of the river.  After working for Mr. Graves a short 
time he went into the marine railway business for himself, about 1876, 
beginning in a very modest way.  He built himself improvised ways for 
hauling out small craft.  This was located at the foot of the present 
Berkley-Norfolk bridge, on the Berkley side.  At the present time there is a 
small marine railway on the same site, which, small as it is is much larger 
than the establishment which was Mr. Colonna's first business venture for 
himself.
It was a hard row that Mr. Colonna had to follow when he first entered 
business for himself.  Profits were very small in those days, but by strict 
application to business he managed to save enough to buy, in 1881, a small 
piece of land, on which he built an unpretentious marine railway.  On this 
same site, however, before he retired, there were three railways, ranging in 
capacity from 500 to 1, 500 tons and wood working and iron working 
facilities unexcelled at this port, as far as private capital is concerned.
During the late war this plant was engaged in repairing Fifth Naval District 
vessels guarding the capes, United States shipping board and army transport 
vessels.  At one time, Mr. Colonna was the owner of four of the Norfolk 
marine railway companies including the W.A. Graves concern, the first plant 
in which he worked on coming to Norfolk. There was a period in his career 
when he operated five marine railways in this port.
In religion, Mr. Colonna was a devout Episcopalian.  Before moving to 
Norfolk proper he was for many years a member of St. Paul's P.E. Church, 
serving as a member of its vestry and as superintendent of its Sunday School 
until the death of its late rector, Rev. Robert Gatewood.  He then became a 
member of St. Paul's Church, Norfolk, where he also served as a vestryman 
for several terns.  He was a man of broad charity and delighted in doing 
kindly acts.
Mr. Colonna was married to Margaret Okeson Dunson in March 1877 and to 
Fannie C. Fentress on January 30, 1902., and leaves two daughters and seven 
sons.  The daughters are Mrs. O.F. Smith, Jr. and Mrs. E.E. Jones and the 
sons are C.D., W.W., E.H., B.O., B.C.,B.A. and M.D. Colonna.  The funeral 
will be held from St. Paul's church at 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.  Rev. 
H.H. Covington, D.D., will officiate at the church and Rev. R.R. Phelps at 
the grave in Elmwood Cemetery.


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