Eugene Withers (January 22, 1867 – June 1, 1925) was a lawyer and politician who served in both the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate, representing Pittsylvania County and Danville.

Eugene Withers
Withers in 1915 publication
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 24th district
In office
December 4, 1895 – December 6, 1899
Preceded byJohn L. Hurt
Succeeded byJoseph Whitehead
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Pittsylvania and Danville City
In office
December 6, 1893 – December 4, 1895
Preceded byNone (seat created)
Succeeded byHenry Berger
Personal details
Born(1867-01-22)January 22, 1867
Caswell County, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedJune 1, 1925(1925-06-01) (aged 58)
Danville, Virginia, U.S.
Resting placeGreen Hill Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Daisy Hancock
(m. 1905)
Children2
Parent
EducationUniversity of Virginia School of Law
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina (PhB)
Signature

Early life

edit

Eugene Withers was born on January 22, 1867, on a farm in Caswell County, North Carolina, to Mary Ann (née Price) and Elijah Benton Withers. His father was a lieutenant in the 13th North Carolina Regiment and served as a state senator. His mother died in childbirth in January 1869. Withers and his family moved to Danville, Virginia, when he was nine. Withers studied at private schools in Danville, Virginia. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1888 with a Bachelor of Philosophy. He studied law at the University of Virginia School of Law for one term from 1888 to 1889. He then returned to the University of North Carolina from 1889 to 1890. He was admitted to the bar in North Carolina and Virginia in 1890.[1][2][3][4] He was a member of Beta Theta Pi.[2]

Career

edit

Withers started practicing law in Danville in 1891 with his father. Their law firm was Withers and Withers. After the death of his father, the firm became Withers & Green and then later Green, Withers and Green. In 1908, Withers left the firm and practiced alone.[1][3] He served as city attorney of Danville from 1907 to 1910. Later in life, Withers was a member of the Withers and Brown firm with Judge E. Walton Brown.[4]

Withers was a member of the Democratic Party.[3] Withers served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1893 to 1894. He then served as a member of the Virginia Senate, representing Danville and Pittsylvania County, from 1895 to 1899.[1][3] He was a presidential elector for the Democratic ticket in 1900.[1] Withers was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1902.[1][3][4]

Personal life

edit

Withers lived in Danville.[2] He was president of the Tuscarora Club of Danville.[3] Withers married Daisy Hancock of Danville on December 6, 1905.[2] They had two daughters, Margaret and Gertrude.[3][4]

Withers died on June 1, 1925, at his home at Stonewall Apartment in Danville. He was buried at Green Hill Cemetery.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e University of Virginia; its history, influence, equipment and characteristics, with biographical sketches and portraits of founders, benefactors, officers and alumni. Vol. 2. Lewis Publishing Company. 1904. pp. 265–266. Retrieved April 20, 2023 – via Archive.org.
  2. ^ a b c d Men of Mark in Virginia: Ideals of American Life. Vol. 4. Washington, D.C.: Men of Mark Publishing Co. 1908. pp. 447–448. Retrieved April 20, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Vol. 5. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co. 1915. pp. 965–966. Retrieved April 20, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ a b c d "Funeral Will Be Held From Mount Vernon". The Bee. June 2, 1925. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ "Eugene Withers Is Dead". The Bee. June 2, 1925. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved April 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
edit