Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-05-29
BISHOP NEWTON.

DlSdO1 NE w YIN.
The death of Bishop J. B. Newton at
his home in Richmond yesterday vas
mentioned in the GAZETTE of that
tate. He was stricken with heart
trouble al l o'c'oc k in the morning, ar d
passt d away about three hours late ,
conscious to the last and surround ed
by the members of his family. Bishop
Newton was upon the streets Thursday,
and Was apparently in perfectly good
health. at tea be was exceedingly
bright and happy with his family, and
no one supposed that the terrible afr
Fiction was to fall so soon. He had
been a sufferer from heart trouble in a
mild form for about two years.
Bishop Newton was a native of
estmoreland county, having been
born at Linden" the elegant home of
his parents. He was son of Hon.
Willoughby Newton, one of the most
nonored Virginians of his time, having
wide reputation as lawyer and be-
fore the war represented his county in
che State Legislature and in Congress.
The mother of Bishop Newton was
Mary Brockenborough, native of
Richmond, and daughter Of Judge
Wm. borough, of the Virginia
Court of Appeals.
The future bishop spent his childhood
10 his beautiful country home, leaving
il in early youth to attend the EpisctH
nal High School, pear Alexandria, anr
alteru ards Edge Hill School. Aft
completing his academic education he
studied medicine at Winchester under
tute'age of the father OF DIR. Hunter
Mcclure. Later on he was graduated
rom the Medical College of Virginia.
Entering the Confederate service at
the breaking out OF hostilities he at
tended Gen. A. p. Hill's command as
assistant surgeon, being afterwards pro
noted to the rank of surgeon.
November 5, 1862, he married Ro
berta Page Williamson, daughter OF
Joseph Alleine and Mary Mann Page
williamson. After the war he settled
in Westmoreland near his old home
and practiced his profession.
The need OF church privileges in the
county awakened his interest and
in the absence of q rector in the
parish DR.. Newton obtained the bish
OPS consent to conduct lay services.
These were held in lay schoolhouse
aud in private houses. He also organ
lied Sunday school. Eventually he
decided to give up secular pursuits and
1--WE his life to the work Of the Gospel
Having q wife and five children to pro-
vide for and the income from his daily
practice his only source of revenue,
course at the Theological Seminary was
for him an impossbility. Determined
upon the accomplishment of his cherish
ed object he devoted every spare mo
ment of his time to hard study and a,
the end oftwo years passed the same
examinations prescribed for students
who have passed through all of the
classes. He was ordained to the dia-
conate of the Protestant Episcopal
church and Immediately received call
to the rectorship of "South Farnham"
parish, which included st. Johns
church at Tappahannock and st. Paul's
church, II miles distant.
His election to the assistant bishopric
was just recognition of his fine c.
pacities as demonstrated in the coun
ellis OF the diocese and the conventions
of the general church in which he was
at all times prominent figure.
An unusual circumstance of DIR.
Newton's election to the assistant bi h
opric is his having been called from
pastorate work within the parish.
Energy was distinguishing character
istic of Bishop Newton. From the day
he received his diploma until the day
of his ordination to the ministry he
practiced medicine and he filed the
Offices of rector in his parish until
tho day of his conservation to the bjsh-
opric.
Bishop Newton was an alumnus of
the Medical College of Virginia.
Bishop Newton is survived by his
widow and ten children-nine sons and
one daughter.