The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-02

| ana Lcrcr rim. Virginia, MS native
! state, and Nottoway. his native tounty
and residence for many years.. may wen
fool ,rtu nd Of such a citizen ana sucn q
s.,a or. Snce the war he has proven
himself lust as olIlgent and faithful sno
reliable wherever he has labcged. he mas
! served his Church In It's rcpresentduvs
councils in various ways. While he .
genuine Methodist, yet no IL run 81 inc
cltnolicity OF the Gospel, ana au7o.'s
his friends IN all communlons. In tho
educational work OF the Church ana S'"s
Ito mas rendered signal service. RE re-
sires M Ashland. Va, andis secretary All
trelsuIe- OF Randolph-M Macon College. 10
q to senior member Of the board of
trustees. and I know ! voice The ursni-
mons ser t.ment OF that board when l say
his services TO the college have been al
: most Invaluable. He well deserves the
sobriQuot. which he has won and by
which no is known. "Old Reliable" Long
nay IDS useful life be spared, mi his
sunset, when 1t comes. may 1t be glori-
ous"
THE WAR OVER.
The war over. Captain lrby returned
10 farm and foundry, and endeayored 70
retrieve losses and carry on business az
before. This. however, was up-hiil WORK.
no ua. elected president OF the Peters
nurg Iron Works in 1851, and I'm 1868 he
moved TO Richmond to engage in the steve
manufacturing business with Asa Sny-
der. Tnis offered a large field for busl-
ness, but the bright prospects Tor sue
cess were darkened by the panic or 1913
and succeeding years. Ills interests were
sold in 1873. and for several years there
after Captain Irby was agent Tor mo
Bureau OF immigration OF virginia III
1884 he was elected secretary oil the VIZ
ginia Bible Society, which posiuon no
held until 1887. when he resigned ~
cept the office OF secretary ana treasures
of Randolph-Maccn College. when posi
ton he now holds. In 1879 the Sap'ain
was elected a member OF the Town Com
ell OF Ashland. in which pody ne mas
served with ability and distinction. .
MRS. IRBI.
The gentiewoman, Frances virginia
Fitzgerald. who has been MS companion
I'm prosperity and adversely fer hfty
wears. was the lounges daughter OF Rev.
Freeman Fitzgerald and Elizabeth. his
wife. The first OF the family. William
FITZGERALD. who came from Ireland TO
Virginia in the early part OF the eighteenth
century. patented IA large tract OF land
In Nottoway county I'm l1i2. and became
the ancestor OF n large connection. lie
married Elizabeth, daughter CT Edmund
lrby. OF Prince George county, who died
IN 1873.
william Fitzgerald. son Of the first
william. built Leirster. near Nottoway
Courthouse. which was the home or tho
family for many years. and Is still stand
ing. Freeman was the youngest son or
william OF Lelr.ter. He moved In early
life to Alabama. where he prospered. but
on account of the health Of his wife he
removed Ia Florida In 1884, wnere Mrs.
Irby was born In 1881. Returning TO Nir-
ginia. he fell heir TO Leirster at the death
OF his brother. Here he lived until tho
death OF his wife. and then returned TO
Florida. Dying in 1915. he left his young
est child 10 the care OF her eldest sister.
until she came TO live with her brother. I'm
Nottoway. to attend school,.
At Leirster. the home cf this brother.
the marriage Of this half-centurv couple
took place October I. 1916. OF the four
ladies and four gentlemen who acted az
walters at that old fashioned Virginia
wedding six are yet living. one Of the dead
having been killed In the war. To Cap
tain and Mrs. Irby have been born thlr-
teen children. nine OF whom are now
living. They have fourteen grandchil-
dren.