Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-15
THE NOMINEES.
A. J. MONTAGUE.


Hon. Andrew Jackson Montague,
the democratic nominee for Governor
of Virginia, will be the youngest man
that has ever occupied the Executive
Mansion OF Virginia. He will be 80 years
old on the third of next October. Mr..
Montague wss born In Campbell county,
where his family refugeed during the
war. Mid6leEex, the home OF his fa-
cher, .wss often In the lines OF the
ny, and Lieutenant-GoverDor
q ptlgae carried bis family to place
Of safety. While Mrs Montague was
in Oampbell the future Governor Ct
Virginia was born. Mr.. Montague is
the eoo OF Hon. K. L. Montague, "the
Red Fox" as no was known in his day,
and, ieed, as be is known TO many IN
the Tidewster country now. The fa-
ruer of the subject Of this sketch was AZ
the time of bis sons birth member OF
tba Confederate Congress, having also
bsen q member OF the convention OF
Virginia which passed tbs ordinsno, OF
secession.
When the war WIS ended and the
family could return to their old home
10 Middlesex, notwithstanding the q.
uanc'al stress under which the family
was placed, be went to the best schools
In the neigbborhood and leid the tJu1-
dation OF his education. He had, at sn
early age, selected the profession OF law
in Richmond College, which wf tbet Of
hls father. He wss student from 1880
to 1882 After leaving college Mr.. Mon
tague taught school for two yes,s,
though he had no idea OF making that
his life work. la 1884 be took the sum-
mer law course at the University Of Vir-
ginia and In eight months graduated as
a bachelor OF law.
Ia 1884 the young lawyer went to
the city of Danviile and entered upon
the practice Of bi9 profession. He soon
built up good practice, although
among strangers. In 1885 President
Cleveland appointed him United Sta! y
attorney for the western district Of this
State, a position he occupied until Juy
%, 1897. Mr.. Montsgue rendered his
resignation upon the election OF Herrl-
SOD, but it was not accepted, owing to
agree upon his successor.
During the first Bryan campaign the
nominee for Governor took an active
part in advocating the claims Of that
candidate. He stumped much OF the
southwestern part of the State and
made fine impression. Iu 1897 Mr..
Montague wss nominated for Attorney
General of Virginia.
Mr.. Montague has won some OF the
most important cases in the history of
the Commonwealth during bis term of
office "a the head OF the legal depart
ment of the Commonwealth. Mr.. Mon
tague wss married December 8, 1890,
to M ss Eiizsbsth Hoskins. They have
three children, two girls end boy.
JOSEPH @. WILLARD.
The nominee for Lieutenant Cover
nor-Capt. Joseph Q. Willard, of Fair
fax-is one of the most popular young
men 10 the State as he is the wealthiest.
His fortune has been estimated at
$4,000, 900, consisting chiefly Of WASH
iDgton property. He has served two
terms In the House Of Delegates as the
representative of Fairfax county, and
has made himself unusually strong
among the members OF both branches of
he Assembly.
He IS the son of the late Joseph K.
Willard, who was major 10 the Fed
eral ssny during the Civil War. His
mother was Miss Antonio Ford, whose
sympathiss with the Southern cause
was 80 strong that she was arrested,
charged with being Confederate spy.
Wnen Mosby captured General Slough
ton at Fairfax Courthouse she was ar.
rested upon the charge OF being i'm
plicated In the capture and of leading
NJ shy into the town. Colonel Mosby
always denied this. She was carried to
the Federal lines, near Centreville,
where the best citizens appeared 10 ber
bshslf. The lady was offered her re.
lease upon the condition that she would
take the oath to the Federal govern
mont. This the mother oi the Dominee
for Lieutenant-G Governor declined to
do, and was consequently sent to the
OLD Capital pr son at Washington. II
was there that Major Willard, who was pro-
vost msrsbsl met and f,n in love with tho
young Virginia girl. BE secured her relesse
and carried ner back to Fairfax Courthouse
in a private carriage Mr.. Willsrd's IN ,ther,
the heroine in these stirring events, died
quite young. The son was left to the are Of
his maternal grsndmoihe- and educated at
the Episcopal High sohoel nesr Alexandria.
He m sIried Miss Belle J.. Wyatt, Of F'sex
Junty, descendant Of one Of the colonial
govarnors Of Virginia. Mr. Willard hiss
maniies,ed in late yesrs no little interest in
politics, and has taken q prominent part IL
the sffiirs Of the Eighth district, where he is
very popular.