The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-12

large, as Captain Drinkard had been in
falling health for nearly two years. lie
had not been at all wei since receiving
a sun stroke about two years ago. His
health was not a cause for alarm on the
part of his family, however, until Satur-
day nignt, June 25th. when he was taken
seriously III. and since that time ne has
been conscious only part of the time lie
continued to grow weaker gradually until
the end came Nearly all the members of
his family were by his bedside when he
died.
A NATIVE VIRGINIAN.
William Francis Drinkard was born in
the family homestead near Prospect, IN
Prince Edward county, Virginia, on Nov
ember g3rd, 1925. lie was therefore, In the
I'D wear of his age His father was VII
liam Il. Drinkard. prominent farmer OF
the county in which he lived. and was a
man of influence in his community, and
was a staunch Democrat. He always
took "a keen interest In the welfare OF his
neighborhood, and was regarded by the
people Of the county as a solid, good cit
izen. His mother was Miss Rebekah
Cunningham. daughter of weil-known
citizen of Prince Edward.
Young Drinkard received common
school education from the county schools.
His father died when the subject OF thls
sketch was about fourteen years or ace.
This threw the son largely upon his own
resources. and he struck out for himself
TO earn a livelihood. His mother subse-
quently married Or. Glenn, a well-known
physician of the county. At this time
young Drinkard was engaged IN the
printing business IN Farmvine. lie re-
mained there several years, and when he
was twenty-five years of age he was pub
fishing weekly paper at Paramount,
West Virginia.
ON THE CONGRESSIONAL GLOBE.
lie continued at the head Of this paper
for several years. and subsequently ne
became proof-reader on the Congress
ional Globe, in Washington. lie re-
NAMED in this position for number OF
years Captain Drinkard had some IN
teresting and amusing experiences DUR
ing his connection with the Globe Some
years before his death he used 10 tell
some amusing stories or some or the IN
cidents that took place in the newspaper
office In Washington. lie was a keenly
obseryant man. and he overlooked few
of the most interesting things which
transpired in the department of the pub
ucation with which he was connected
II was some time before the war that he
used to make trips TO Richmond from
time 20 time. and for short while be-
fore the war he was engaged in the mer-
camille business here. During the war he
spent a good deal of his time in Rich
mond. and for a while he was connected
with the ordnance department OF the
Confederate army. with the rank OF Cap
tain.
A VIGOROUS EDITOR.
After the war when the Richmond Dis
patch resumed publication Captain
Drinkard became the news editor OF that
paper. lie occupied that position for a
number of years. and afterwards became
ed;tor-in-ehef OF the paper. For many
years he was leading editorial writer
and continued to occupy an editorial po-
sltion until mis- death. or late years he
has been editor emeritus OF the paper.
ana during the past two years lie has not
doue much writing.
Captain Drinkard was one OF the most
active and energetic newspaper men IN
Virginia. He was a man OF strong con-
victtons, and often expressed himself
through the editorial columns OF tno
CONTINUED en- Seventh PAxAl