Unity Lodge No. 146

Virginia Biography: Samuel Gardner Waller

Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume 5
Samuel Gardner Waller. The family of Waller, one of the most distinguished among the English gentry, was founded by Almed de Waller, a Norman who settled in the county of Kent and died in 1183. From him descended the Wallers of England and other countries. Richard Waller, of Groombridge, Kent, distinguished himself at the battle of Agincourt, where he took prisoner the French prince, the duke of Orleans. Henry V., of England, in honor of his service added the ancient arms of the family (which were sable three walnut leaves, or, between two bendlets ar. with the inscription medio tutissimus iris), the crest, "an oak tree proper, on the sinister side an escutcheon pendant charged with the arms of France, with a label of three points," and the motto, Hacc fructus virtutis. The first to whome the Virginia family definitely traces was John Waller, M. D., a grandson of Edmund Waller, of Beaconsfield, the poet. Dr Waller, born in 1617, married Mary Key, and came from England to Virginia in 1635 and was living in 1688. Colonel John Waller, the third son of Dr. John Waller, was born in 1673 and was styled "gentleman." He was a member of house of burgesses, 1719, and the first clerk of Spottsylvania county, 1722-1742. He married Dorothy King and lived on his estate, "Newport," where he died in 1754. His children were: Mary; Edmond, the second clerk of Spottsylvania county, 1742-1751; William, the third clerk, 1751-1759; John, the fifth clerk, 1774-1786; Thomas; Benjamin, father of the celebrated Judge Waller, of Williamsburg, Virginia. Edmond Waller, the eldest son of Colonel John and Dorothy (King) Waller, wa born in Newport, Virginia, and died in Spottsylvania county. He served nine years as clerk of the county, succeeding his father, the first clerk, and was in turn succeeded by his brother, then by a nephew, John, who later gave way to John (2), son of John (1), the family therm of service in the clerk's office covering sixty-four years. Edmund Waller married Mary Pendleton and left issue. Benjamin Waller, son of Edmund and Mary (Pendleton) Waller, was born in Spottsylvania county in 1749, and died at Prospect Hill in 1835, and old Virginia gentleman. He married Jeanne, daughter of Colonel Rice Curtis, and left issue. Rev. Absalom Waller, son of Benjamin and Jeanne (Curtis) Waller, was born in Spottsylvania county in 1772, and died there in 1823, an eminent minister of the Baptist church. He married, November 10, 1805, Cicely, daughter of Colonel Clough Shelton and descendant of Lord Clough. Dr. Nelson Samuel Waller, son of Rev. Absalom and Cicely (Shelton) Waller, was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, December 30, 1817, and died at Prospect Hill, July 20, 1868, an eminent physician of Spottsylvania county. He married, May 7, 1843, Mary Hampton De Jarnette, daughter of Captain Elliott and Elizabeth De Jarnette, descendant of Lady Jane Grant. She was born at Pine Forest, Spottsylvania county, Virginia, in 1820, and died at Wildwood in 1902. She was also a connection of the Hampton family, her grandmother having been a sister of the grandmother of General Wade Hampton. Children of Dr. Nelson Samuel Waller: 1. Nannie, born in 1844, died in 1897, unmarried. 2. Robert Emmet, born December 10, 1846; planter, lawyer, and judge of Spottsylvania county for twenty-six years, and later commonwealth attorney: married (first) Constance Gardner Cazanove, daughter of William G. Cazanove, of Alexandria, Virginia, and granddaughter
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Samuel Gardner Waller
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of Judge Stanard, of Virginia; no issue; he married (second) Cathrine Perkins Dep; issue: Nannie and Robert Emmet (2). 3. William Judson, born in 1847, died in 1893; was a prominent physician of North Garden, Albermarlie county, Virginia; married (first) Bettie Hart Dew; no issue; married (second) in 1892, Cordelia Willing Byrd; no issue. 4. Nelson Samuel (2), of whom further. 5. Absalom, born at Wildwood in 1859; a lawyer and financier; married (first) in 1886 Annie Du Pont, of Delaware; no issue; married (second) Louise Jones, of Greensboro, Georgia; issue, Nelson Absalom and Louise. Nelson Samuel (2) Waller, third soon of Dr. Nelson Samuel (2) Waller, third son of Dr. Nelson Samuel (1) and Mary Hampton (De Jarnette) Waller, was born at Spottsylvania, Virginia, May 23, 1850. He embraced the profession of law, is a graduate of the University of Virginia. A. B., and LL. B. He has rendered distinguished and valuable service to the cause of education in Virginia, and is also interested in agriculture. He has served his day and generation well, and is one of the eminent men of his state. He is a member of the board of visitors of Mount Vernon from the seventh Virginia district and holds membership in other societies of note. He married, in 1880, Rebecca Branson Gardner, daughter of Captain Samuel B. Gardner, and his wife. Sarah Catherine (Allen) Gardner. Children: Samuel Gardner, of further mention: Robert Allen, born in 1884, died at "Mountain Home." in 1886; Mary Roberta, born at Mountain Home, Virginia, married, in 1907. William Addison Knowles, editor of the "Rome Tribune," Rome, Georgia. Samuel Garner Waller, eldest son of Nelson Samuel (2) and Rebecca Branson (Garner) Waller, was born in Front Royal, Virginia, March 26, 1882. He secured his early education in the public schools of Front Royal, attended Randolph-Macon Academy three years, 1892-94. Locust Dale Academy, 1895-97, then entered the law department of the University of Virginia, whence he was graduated LL. B., class of 1903. During his university years he was much interested in athletics, particularly baseball, making the university team. He began practice in Front Royal where he is now located and established in practice in all state and Federal courts of the district. He is United States referee in bankruptcy for the western district of Virginia, and has ever been prominent in the political and military life of his state. In 1906 Mr. Waller was the Democratic candidate for mayor of Front Royal and was elected for a term of two years. His administration was so highly satisfactory to the voters that in 1908, 1910 and 1912 he was elected to succeed himself, and is now serving his fourth consecutive term. His service in the Virginia National Guard began in 1903 as lieutenant of Company D, Second Regiment Virginia Infantry. He was aide-de-camp on the staff of General C. C. Vaughn, commanding the First Virginia Brigade, and was major of the Second Regiment, resigning that rank in 1908 to accept the captaincy of Company D, Second Regiment, a company which his grandfather had also been captain. Major Waller is a member of the law association of his district and has contributed many weighty articles to the law journals. He is a member of the National Educational Association and of other societies, social, professional and military. His fraternity is Pi Kappa Alpha, University of Virginia chapter, and he is prominent in the Masonic order belonging to Unity Lodge, No. 1469, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Hiram Chapter, No. 45, Royal Arch Masons; Winchester Commandery, No. 12, Knights Template: and Acca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In religious faith he affiliates with the Presbyterian church. Major Waller is unmarried.
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In the Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume 5 from 1915, we find a member of Unity Lodge No. 146 – Samuel Garner Waller, who was a lawyer, Major in the Virginia National Guard, and served as Mayor of Front Royal for four consecutive terms.

BookEncyclopedia of Virginia Biography
VolumeV
PublisherLewis Historical Publishing Company, New York
Published1915
Pages736-737, photo
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