The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-12
BIOGRAPHIES FROM CITY HALL.
Pen Sketches of the Men who
Do the City's Work.
Judge william Gordon Robertson and
Mayor Evans--col. $. s. Brooke and His
Deputies--Commissione Turner--City
Engineer Dunlap--Clcrk of Councils
Bennett, and Many Others.

Valley railroad to this city in 1882, and
the erection of the Roanoke Machine
Works, brought enough people here i'll
short time to form n city, and in 1884 the
Legislature gave the new town of Roam
oke charter as city. new charter
necessitated different form of govern
mont. and the first and most important
was the election of a mayor and the es-
adjustment of Hastings Court
JUDGE WILLIAM GORDON ROBERTSON,
n son of Judge William j. Robertson, of
the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals,
was elected to that position, and has
held the position ever since, to the high
est satisfaction of the people of this city.
He is young man, scarcely thirty years
old, careful student, and gifted with
unusual discernment, besides being in
his social, as we'll as his political inter
course, without bias or prejudice. His
decisions are always just, and are sell
dom, if ever, reversed, even by the SUI
preme tribunal of the State. A close
student. constant friend, and a man of
metaphysical turn Of mind, his classic
features wodld attract attention any
where.
With the organization of city gov
eminent and a Hastings Court in lSSl by
the appointment of Judge Robertson,
Col j. ii. Dunstan. an energetic and
liberal minded American of English
birth, was elected mayor, and John s.
Ward clerk of the court. Mayor Dun
stan resigned after short service. and
went to Celera, Ala, and Mr. John 5.
Ward was elected clerk of the court.
A short time after this Ward resigned.
and in June, 1886, Judge William Cor
don Robertson appointed
COLONEL. $. s. BROOKE
his successor.
As few men in this city have contrib
uted more for it's welfare than Colonel
Brooke, brief biography of him may
not be out of place i'll this connection.
Colonel Brooke was born in Stafford
county, and is about ~ years old. He
is of medium height. with blue eyes.
gray hair and mustache. and looks like
a soldier, which his record proves him
to have been. When he was not over
16 years old he enlisted as a private in
the Confederate army, and when the
war closed came out of the service as
captain in Company l. Forty-seventh
Virginia Infantry. He was slightly
wounded twice, and was in about forty
battles and skirmishcs. lie was in the
celebrated charge at Gettysburg, in the
bloody battle of the Wilderness, and in
the fight at Charlottesville.
He came to Roanoke in 1882, and soon
afterwards began to edit the Leader
which he conducted till he resigned,
when appointed clerk of the Hastings
Court. In 1887 he was elected to fill the
nneXpired term of Mr.. Ward, and in
No n1 tn hn
position without opposition. lie was
elected captain of the Roanoke Light
Infantry on its organization, and Il few
months ago was elected lieutenant-col-
onel of the Second Virginia Regiment.
When first appointed clerk of the Illus
tings Court he needed the assistance of
only one man and had his Office i'll an
upper room of Mr.. c. Wcrtz's building
on Commerce street, and while tho SEES
sions Of the court were held in Rorer
Hall, an old building on Campbell and
Roanoke streets, which ought to have
been pulled down a year or more ago.
The business of Captain Brooke's
Office has, however, increased to such an
extent that besides his deputy, Mr.
Thomas F.. Kizer, he now cnsploys
seven clerks to assist in recording
deeds and transacting other business.
The two rooms and the vault used by
him on the first floor of the new court
house building are not large enough for
the uses of the Office, and provision
Should be made for transferring him
and his whole force to the second floor
A separate building should be erected.
Captain Brooke is of pleasant address
and kind and genial presence. He de-
serves all his great popularity
On the resignation of Mayor Dnnstan.
Judge Williams was appointed mayor.
and in 1886 he was succeeded by Mayor
Carr, who was elected in 1856. and re-
elected mayor in 1888 lie died before
the expiration of his term, and Council
man
w. q. EVANS
was appointed as acting mayor At the
election last May Mr.. Evans was elected
mayor by handsome plurality, not
withstanding he had two opponents. He
is young man, and senior member of
the firm of Evans &, Chalmers. hardware
dealers. He has been in the business
since Roanoke was Il city and was first
elected councilman from which as presi-
dent Of that body he has advanced to
tho position he now fills SO creditably.
hlr. Evans is not over 30 years old, of
dark complexion, and about six feet in
height. lie came here from Montgom-
cry county, and has by his business
habits and sterling integrity won large
place in the hearts of the people of this
city.
Among the other officers of the city
none is more deserving than
MIR. THOMAS T.. KIzEH,
clerk of the Hastings Court Mr.. Kizcr
was deputy under Mr.. McCaully, clerk
of the Roanoke county court for several
years. He also served under Mr. Ward
clerk of the llustings Court, of this city
v16 tuh Cnn tniy