Green Rives of Dinwiddie County Virginia

Transcribed from book written by John R. T. Rives

Descendants of James Monroe Rives

(2) JOHN ROBERT THOMAS RIVES, b. June 13, 1875 in Bedford County, Tenn. Was 16 months old when his father died in Lamar County, Texas. Was reared by his mother; was educated in the common schools of Bedford County, Tenn., and worked as a farm hand until 1887 when he, with his mother, visited his uncle in Lamar County, Texas; returned to Tennessee in the Spring of 1888, working as a farm hand until Aug. 14, 1889, when he with his mother joined his brother in Birmingham, Alabama. At the age of 15 was employed as a messenger in the Superintendent's Office of the L & N Railroad, later serving as Call Boy, News Agent on Trains, and on November 22, 1897, as Flagman for L & N Railroad, and on March 1, 1901, was promoted to that of Conductor, and remained in that service until Jan. 16, 1916; in 1915 was elected Mayor L of Inglenook, a suburb of Birmingham.

He joined Division 186, Order of Railway Conductors February 22, 1903, was an active member and officer of the organization. Delegate to Grand Division, Boston, 1909; Jacksonville, 1911; Detroit, 1913; St. Louis 1916-1919; Cleveland, 1922. In the spring of 1915 proposed a meeting of the Four Brotherhoods in the southeastern territory to be held in Birmingham in September, 1915. At this meeting held in the Tutwiler Hotel in Birmingham, there were 600 members of the Four Brotherhoods present and he was elected chairman of the meeting and appointed the committee for the purpose of proposing the establishment of an eight hour day for railroad employees throughout the nation. Two weeks later the Eastern Association of General Chairmen concurred and another week later the Western Association of General Chairmen concurred.

At the expiration of his term of Mayor, he was elected Coroner of Jefferson County, serving from 1917 to 1921. Was also engaged in Real Estate business during 1920 and first part of 1921. In September, 1921, he was made Deputy President of the Order of Railway Conductors of America, with headquarters at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While acting as Deputy President of the Order of Railway Conductors, he was elected to the Legislature of Alabama, serving from January, 1923 to January, 1927, during the administration of Governor William Brandon. In February, 1927 was appointed Editor of The Railway Conductor, the official publication of the Order of Railway Conductors. In addition to his duties as Editor of The Railway Conductor, he was in July, 1932, appointed Financial Agent of the organization. In addition to the above, as financial agent and editor of the Railway Conductor, he did audit work in connection with the various divisions or lodges until his retirement, July 31, 1954. In fraternal circles, he joined Birmingham Fraternal Lodge No. 384 A.F. & A.M. initiated March 18, 1901; passed Fellow Craft April 22, 1901, and raised a Master Mason, May 13. 1901. Was Junior Steward 1902. Demitted August 4, 1913 and organized Bendale Lodge No. 773 as a Charter Member, Nov. 29, 1913. He was the first secretary of Bendale Lodge. A Charter Member and Past Patron of Birmingham Chapter No. 118 Order of Eastern Star. He took the Scottish Rite degrees from the fourth to the 32nd degree in 1914, also, was initiated a member of Zamora Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In January 1956, at Montgomery, Ala., he was invested a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor by the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons. He is a member of Birmingham Consistory and is assistant class director. Was editor of the Scottish Rite News 1955-1956.

He is a member of the Independent order of Odd-Fellows, Mineral City Lodge No. 74 and was Vice Grand in 1956. Declined to advance to Noble Grand on account of poor health. Is a member of Fighting Joe Wheeler Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans. He is past Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, having held the office of Commander- in- Chief from September 1947 to September 1949. He was appointed Colonel on the staff of General Moore, Commander- in-Chief of United Confederate Veterans at their last reunion at Norfolk, Virginia. He is a member of the Alabama Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. In political circles, he was Ass't. Sergeant-at-Arms and Tally Clerk of the Democratic National Convention which met in Baltimore in 1912, and announced the 46th ballot that made Hon. Woodrow Wilson the nominee of the party for the presidency in that year. He was assistant doorkeeper of the Democratic Convention held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1916. He was also Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms of the Democratic Convention held in Philadelphia in 1936 and at Chicago 1940, and 1944. He was Sergeant-at-Arms at the Convention in Philadelphia in 1948 and at Chicago in 1952. He did not attend the Convention in Chicago in 1956. He was vigorously opposed to the proposed racial integration of the races in the public schools, and declined to support the National Platform.

He did not support the Democratic candidate in 1924 but was active in the LaFollete-Wheeler campaign, being in charge of the Railroad Division in the headquarters in Chicago. He did not support the Democratic candidate in 1928 but supported and voted for Herbert Hoover, the Republican candidate. He is a strong believer of States rights as declared in the tenth Amendment of the Constitution, also is opposed to liquor in any form and has been active in Temperance matters through the years.

He married June 19, 1895 Mamie Lillian Gordon. daughter of Amzi Jenkins and Mary Adline (Snell) Gordon, of Wartrace, Tenn., by whom he has issue:

(1) JAMES VELPEAU RIVES (John Robert Thomas), born in Nashville, Tennessee, and moved with his parents November 10, 1897, to Birmingham, Alabama. He was educated in the schools of Birmingham and at Carnegie Institute of Technology, in Pittsburg, where he worked as efficiency engineer with the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co. at  Pittsburqh from 1917-1919. From 1919 to 1921, he was employed as engineer for the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company of Birmingham.  He w a s engineer and estimator for the Inglenook Construction Company o f Birmingham from 1921 to 1931 when he went i n t o contracting business under the name of Rives Construction Co. During World War II he was in the service of the Petroleum Administration For War covering Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. In fraternal circles, he was initiated July 26, 1918 in Bendale Lodge No. 773, A.F. &  A.M., passed to Fellow Craft August 2, 1918 and raised a Master Mason in that lodge, August 9, 1918. A member of Birmingham Consistory Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite 32^o  and of Zamora Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In political circles, he was a Page in the Alabama State Senate, 1911-1915 and was a Page at the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore in 1912. In religion, he is an active officer of the Walker Memorial Methodist Church in Birmingham. He is an independent in the matter of politics. Is a member of Alabama Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, and Fighting Joe Wheeler Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, in Birmingham. He married first, October 2, 1919 Marie Hawkins (d. August 13, 1923), daughter of James Frederick and Dilla (Jones) Hawkins, of Carbon Hill, Alabama. Issue:

He married second, January 23, 1928, Margaret, daughter of Allison D. and Ada (Taylor) McKinney, of Inglenook, Birmingham, Alabama. Issue :

JAMES VELPEAU RIVES, JR., son of James Velpeau, was educated in the schools of Birmingham and the University of Alabama, where he graduated as an engineer. He was president of the Student Body, Phillips High School, 1938; President of U s h e r s Club, Phillip s High School, 1938; President of Sigma Chi Fraternity at University of Alabama 1942-43; President of Freshman Class, University of Alabama, 1939; Member of t h e Labor Committee, Associated General  Contractors, Ala. Branch, 1948 to 1953; Treasurer Associated General Contractors, Ala. Branch, 1957 - 58; President of the Brotherhood Class Walker Memorial Methodist C h u r c h, 1950; Son of James Velpeau Rives Member of the Official Board, Walker Memorial Methodist Church, 1948 through 1953; Member of the Official Board, Canterbury Methodist Church, 1 955-58; President Young Adult Class, Canterbury Church, 1957; Chairman of Finance Commission, Canterbury Church, 1957-1958; Vice-president and Member of Board of Directors, Sertoma Club, Birmingham, 1953-54; Member, Fighting Joe Wheeler Camp, Son of Confederate Veterans; Member, Birmingham Quarterback Club, 1953- 57; Member, Alabama Chapter, Son of the American Revolution; Member of Birmingham Country Club. Page in the Alabama Legislature 1933-34. He was initiated in Shades Valley Lodge No. 829 A.F. & A.M. February 18, 1954. Was passed tc Fellow Craft May 5, 1955 and raised a Master Mason jn that Lodge February 9, 1956. He was made a 32" Scottish Rite Mason in Birmingham Consistory April, 1957. Is a member of Zamora Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the contracting firm of Rives Construction Company. He married Sept. 6, 1943, Dollie Pope, daughter of E. V. Pope and his wife, Eva Mae (Morgan) Pope. They have issue:

MARIE HAWKINS RIVES, daughter of James Velpeau Rives, Sr., b. August 11, 1923, unmarried, lives with her parents, 903 Saulter Road, Birmingham, Ala.

ROBERT ALLISON RIVES, son of James Velpeau Rives and his wife, Margaret (McKinney) Rives, b. Sept. 4, 1929, was educated in the schools of Birmingham, Alabama and Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn, Ala. There he graduated in engineering June 3, 1952. He immediately entered the service in the U. S. Marines where he served during his enlistment. After which he reenlisted in the U. S. Marine Air Force and was located at Camp La. Jeune and then to Quantico then to Pensacola, Florida, and from there to Corpus Christi, Texas, a n d Kingsville, Texas, then to El Toro, California, where he engaged in flying jet-propelled planes. He was made a Captain when discharged, June 23, 1957. On July 1, 1957 he entered the service of the Rives Construction Co., as Engineer and Estimator. Page in Alabama Legislature 1943. He is a member of Alabama Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, and Fighting Joe Wheeler Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans in Birmingham. He is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He graduated in 1952 with B.S. degree in Building Construction from School of Architecture. He married June 3, 1951, Lucy Kathryn Smith, daughter of John Mark Smith and his wife, Lucy Kate Sappington. (Lucy Kathryn Smith, 1948-1954, graduate B.S. in Education, Member of Phi Mu Sorority, Sphinx Honor Society, Dean's List, Pi Kappa Phi, Educational Honor Society.) They have issue:

(2) ALBERT GORDON RIVES (John Robert Thomas) born in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 12, 1901, where he has always resided and where he has engaged in the practice of law since January 1, 1925, except for a period of two and one-half years during World War when he was in Naval Service. Educated in public schools of the City of Birmingham and at the University of Alabama. At the University of Alabama he was President of the Freshman Class, School of Art and Sciences, President of the Erosophic Literary Society, Captain of the Freshman Football Team, member of the Freshman Baseball Team, member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Sigma Chi Social Fraternity, Skulls (Inter - Fraternity Society) Blackfriar Players (Dramatic Club), Executive Committee and Honor Committee of Student Government Body, Corolla Board and Pan Hellenic Council. In 1923 he traveled for the University of Alabama and in 1924 was Assistant Director of Athletics at that institution. Graduated from the University of Alabama Law School with an L.L.B. degree in 1924.

In 1925 he commenced the practice of law in Birmingham with the law firm of London, Yancey and Brower, and later became a member of that firm.

He married Hester Maude Burchfield, daughter of Joseph Pegues Burchfield and Alta Lee Snyder Burchfield, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 22, 1926. He was on active duty with the United States Navy from May 21, 1943 to January 27, 1946, when honorably released to inactive duty. Received training in the Navy Supply Corps School at Babson Institute, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, and thereafter served as Ship Liaison Officer at the Charleston Navy  Yard. He was given training in the Fuel Division of the Navy Department in Washington, D. C., and then served as Legal Counsel for the Petroleum Pool, Third Naval District, New York, N. Y. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Supply Corps, but was later transferred to the line as Lieutenant Commander. Page in Alabama Legislature 1915-1918.

He was initiated June 16, 1922, in Bendale Lodge No. 773,  A. F. & A.M.; was made a Fellow Craft  June 30, 1922, and raised a Master Mason July 10, 1922; a member of Birmingham Consistory Scottish Rit Masons, 32nd Degree, and a member of Zamora Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Member of Birmingham Bar Association, Alabama Bar Association, American Bar Association and International Association of Insurance Counsel. On two occasions he has served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons of The Southside Baptist Church at Birmingham. Member of Vestavia Country Club and The Club. He is a trustee of the Southside Baptist Church.

He is a member of Alabama Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, and Fighting Joe Wheeler Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans in Birmingham. He is now a Senior Member of the law firm of Jackson, Rives, Pettus & Peterson, in Birmingham. Alabama. Resides, 3415 Pine Ridge Rd.  

X. BENJAMIN WATKINS LEIGH RIVES, son of Green Rives, born in Petersburg, Tenn., June 7, 1835. Was educated in private schools and moved to Pine Bluff, Ark., where he married first Harriet E. Flint. Issue:
 

He married second, Katherine Stark Rives, widow of his half brother, Henry Hardaway Rives, but had no issue by her. They adopted two children, Hugh Moore Rives and Anna Moore Rives. He served as a private in Company K 37th Ark. Infantry in the Confederate States of America, and after the war moved from Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Kankakee, Illinois, about 1870, where he was a member of the firm of Rives and Fonville, his partner being a brother of Virginia Fonville, second wife of Willis Green Rives. Later the firm of Rives and Fonville dissolved. (He was elected Tax Assessor of Kankakee County, Illinois as a Democrat, shortly after he moved to that County.) In 1903 he moved from Kankakee to Birmingham, Alabama, where he made his home with his nephew, Jno. R. T. Rives, until about 1909, when he moved on a farm in Lincoln County, Tennessee, where he died October 3, 1913.

He was Chief of Police of Kankakee, 1891-1892. He was a doorkeeper of the Illinois House of Representatives 1893. He was a member of Petersburg Lodge A.F. & A.M. 122 of Petersburg, Tennessee, and was Knighted in Ivanhoe Commandery No. 33, Knights Templar, of  Kankakee, Illinois, January 8, 1871 and was dropped September 17, 1903.

Harry Harpham Squibb, husband of Anna Moore Rives, born March 20, 1860, died August 25, 1930. Anna Rives Squibb, died April 15, 1948. Both are buried at Summit Prairie Cemetery, North of Salem, Illinois.

Hugh and Nannie Rives and their children all deceased and are buried in Old Orchard Cemetery, Petersburg, Tennessee.

XI. ROBERT CLAY RIVES, born March 12, 1837 in Petersburg, Tenn., died January 16, 1914 at Petersburg, Tenn., where he lived all of his life. He was educated in common schools of Lincoln County. He was a sad- dler and harness maker by profession. He was an Elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and active in the temprance move - ment. He was Tiler of Petersburg Lodge 122 A. F. & A. M. He served during the war between the states as a Private Soldier in Co. B. 8th Tenn. Infantry. He married on March 12, 1862, Rebecca Jane Gillum, daughter of Firmin Gillum and his wife, Francis Ann Wells of Petersburg, Tenn. She was the daughter of Adam Wells, of Dinwiddie County, Virginia, who was a brother of Balaarn and Abram Wells of Dinwiddie County, Va. Issue:

LUTHER GREEN RIVES (Robert Clay), was educated in the county schools and has been active in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of which he is an elder, and active in the temperance movement. He was at one time a member of the Knight Pythias. He was an alderman of Petersburg, Tenn., where he has lived most of his life. For several years he was associated with the mercantile firm of Cummins and Bledsoe of Petersburg and 1ater with the firm of Tate brothers Merchants. Since 1931 he has had his own mercantile business in Petersburg. He married Jan. 7, 1902, Blanche Marie Gordon, daughter of Amzi Jenkins Gordon, and his wife, Mary Adline (Snell Gordon). Amzi Jenkins Gordon was the son of William Carroll Gordon and his wife Sarah Coble Gordon. Issue: (1) Elizabeth Gordon Rives, born May 10, 1913. Educated in schools at Petersburg. She married Rev. Raymond Borroughs of Tenn., April 30, 1934. Rev. Raymond Borroughs is Dean of Bethel College, McKenzie. Tenn., and they had issue:

XII. SUSAN WOODWARD RIVES, b. Sept. 29, 1839, joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Sept. 8, 1855. Married, first, Oct. 15, 1858, to James E. Brewer, b. July 3, 1820, and died Nov. 18, 1905 and was buried at Shed Graveyard in Delta County, Texas. She died Oct. 20, 1911, in Delta County, Texas. They had issue:

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