Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-12
RACE FOR THE HOUSE
LIVELY CONTESTS OVER SEATS
FROM MANCHESTER DISTRICTS.
SKETCHES or THE CANDIDATES.
Messrs. Owen, Robertson, Wood, and
Jordan the Aspirants-Saw the
Personals and Briefs


will be made, and no unpleasant spirit
is manifested. the fight will be brisk and
exciting to the close. Manchester, which
claims this year at least one representa-
tive. has two candidates. while Chester
| field sends TO the front Hon. r. G.. Wood.
for reelection. Powhatan. the smaller
factor Of the district, is also represented
in the person Of Mr.. James Jordan.
The two gentlemen whose names now
claim the attention OF the Democrats OF
| Manchester are Messrs. Harry b. Owen
| and Il. NJ Robertson. The fight between
| these gentlemen will not be at all parti-
san. They both stand solidly and squarely
/ good capable men. The outcome will be
mainly governed by the personal friend
ships of the candidates themselves.
MR.. HARRY b. OWEN.
Mr. Owen Is a well-known and popular
| citizen. He was born in Manchester Feb
ruary IA. 1854 and has lived at no other
| place His business associa lions, how
ever. and the duties devolving upon him
as Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge
| Of Masons of Virginia, have brought him
! in contact with leading citizens and
| prominent public men in different Sec
| lions of the Commonwealth. In early life
| he manifested an ardent desire to engage
| in manufacturing enterprises. and when
| quite n young man was at the head or
| the firm Of II. b. owen & Co., manufac-
turers of sash, blinds, and doors on
| Twelfth street, in Richmond. Later on
he became associated with Mr.. W. J.
Whtehurst, under the firm name of
Whitehurst e Owen, and this establish
ment has given employment to large
number of operatives including many
| from Manchester. Mr.. Owen was the first
president of the Builders Exchange III
Richmond, which was the foundation OF
the present Mechanics Institute of that
city-an institution which has done
vast amount of good to hundreds of
worthy young mechanics in enabling
them to prosecute their studies under
faithful and competent instructors in cleo
tricity, wood carving, architectural and
mechanical drawing, mathematics, &c.
Mr.. Owen. along with Hon. Lyon G.
Tyler, now president Of William and Mary
College. Williamsburg; DR.. Thomas Nell
| son Page, the Virginia author; Captain
Thomas II. Elicit. and Messrs. Overton
Howard and Greed 4. Davis, were the
| founders of the Mechanics Institute.
| There were on the roll OF this excellent
| institution last year the names of dozen
| or more young men from Manchester,
who are earnestly prosecuting their stu
| dies, all anticipating a bright future In
| mechanical arts.
II Mr.. Owen should be sent to the
| Legislature it would not be a new field
| to him, as his advice for the past eigh-
| teen years has been sought by leg1s-
lative committees when legislation af-
| rio Of Lob nf
employer were under consideration.
| Besides being Grand Lecturer OF the
Grand Lodge of Masons of Virginia. Mr..
owen Is a Knight Templar and char
ter member OF the Mystic Shrine. He Is
also a pleasing and effective speaker.
MIR. B. NJ. ROBERTSON.
Manchester's other candidate for the
House is Mr. b. NJ. (''Dickie) Robert
son. Mr.. Robertson is just on the sunny
side OF so, and has been more or less
prominent in the politics OF this city
since his removal here In 1881. His re-
cord shows him an earnest advocate OF
Democracy and each campaign since he
| was 21 years OF age has felt his weight
Oh the side Of government of, for, and
| by the people,"
Mr. Robertson Joined the Confederate
army at the age OF Is and surrendered
d
Electoral Board as secretary for twelve
years, and in 1887 was nominated by ac-
clamation as Democratic candidate for
the House. He was then, however de-
feated by the Republican candidate.
When the Bryan and Sewall Club, Of
this city, was organized in the last cam
paign, Mr.. Robertson became it's vice
president and was later made chairman
of the committee appointed from the
club TO meet Mr.. Bryan and extend to
that gentleman the courtesies of Man
chester. This position of honor he
generously surrendered to Hon. II. A.
Maurice Mayor OF the city. Mr.. Robert
son is a Baptist In faith, and has been
deacon in his church for nineteen
years.
Yielding to the wish Of friends. who
have admired his untiring devotion to
his party, he permits his name to be
used again in connection with the lower
House.
HON. ROBERT G. WOOD.
Hon. Robert G.. Wood, who has been
prominently mentioned by the Demo-
Gratis OF Chesterfield for the House OF
Delegates, Is as well known in Chester
field as any other man in the county,
and has had considerable acquaintance
with public matters. He was born in
Chesterfield in 1916, and all OF his life
has been spent there. When a mere
boy, II years of age, he entered the
Confederate army, and served two years
in the Twenty-ffth Virginia Battalion,
Colonel Wyatt NJ. Elliott commanding.
After the war Mr.. Wood engaged as a
farmer in his native county, and to-day
he is a large landowner. His residence.
with excellent farm attached. is located
on the Midlothian pike, about five miles
from Manchester. Mr.. Wood has also
been largely interested in the saw-mill
and lumber business. He has represent
ed his people with much credit on the
Board OF Supervisors and on the School
Board In fact, he has been taking an
active interest In public matters for
many years. Two years ago he was
nominated for the House OF Delegates
and was elected. His many friends, be-
ing pleased with the record he made
and the close attention he paid TO the
wishes of his constituents, have ex-
pressed a desire that M. Wood stand
for reelection. This he has consented
to do.
THE MAN OF POWHATAN.
The candidate which Powhatan sends
into the field Is Mr. James Jordan. who
is quite well known in his county. ana
also numbers his friends in Chesterfield
and in Manchester. He was at one time
Deputy Sheriff OF Powhatan, and Is a
man of considerable experience in prac-
tical affairs and knows the needs Of the
people. He is beyond 40 and In the prime
strength of his manhood.
He will make good fight in Powhatan.
but will have opposition in the person or
Mr.. Hobson, the Popuiist candidate for
the same honor.