Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

Page 22 text:

X 1 te ntnav . 'f , ' .,o s I l i li v Y lx 1: sp: -5 Dr. lilanton began his young life with such a heritage on his maternal as well as paternal side. His boyhood days were spent on the farm. and his early and academic education was obtained in the private schools of his native state. He had a natural aptitude for medicine and early in life chose that as his profes- sion. His medical educational training was received at the Medical College of Yirginia. from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1881. Almost immediately he began the practice of his profession in Richmond, and for 36 years he has most zealously and with notable success, continued in that work. His worth and ability to the Medical College were at once recognized by those in authority and he was chosen as .Xdjunct Professor and became a member of the lfaculty. which position he held from 1887 to 1894. From 1894 to 1308 he was full professor in the Chair of Materia Medica and Therapeutics. From 1898 to 1910 he was full professor in the Chair of Children's Diseases and was elected Emeritus llrofessor in 1911. .Xt present he is Pediatrician to the Memorial Hos- pital in Richmond. At the consolidation of the Medical College and the Cniversity College of Medicine into the Medical College of Yirginia, his experienced services were much desired in the new college, but his large and extensive practice would not permit his acceptance of a professorship. Dr. Blanton keeps abreast of all the modern methods and in touch with all efforts for the improvement of the medical calling. being a member of the American Medical Association, of the Southern Medical Association, of the Medical Society of Virginia, of the Richmond Academy of Medicine and Surgery. and is also one of the busiest and most successful practi- tioners in the city and state, frequently being called into consultation in different parts of the state. He is a member of the Pi Mu tMedicall Fraternity. and since 1911 has been an active member of the Board of 'Trustees of Hampden-Sidney College, whose meetings he attends with commendable regularity. To those who are intimately acquainted and associated with Dr. Blanton, several striking traits are pre-eminently manifest, four of which I take the liberty of briedy naming. The first of these is his love for the home, together with his great interest in the welfare and proper development of the young in the home. ln 1888. Dr. Blanton married Miss Elizabeth ll. W'allace. a member of a distin- guished Yirginia family, from whose ancestors there came the sterling worth, unflinching integrity and Christian character that have marked their descendants. as as . 1 Two sons and one daughter have been born into this home. The marriage has been ideal and illustrative of the Biblical statement that God hath set the solitary in families. the unit of the nation and church in the individual. But the value to the church and state of the individual depends in large measure upon the home intiuence. Dr. Blanton, recognizing this principle, has made his children his com- panions. Their recreatious. companions, plans have all been likewise his. He .i ii T un Page Sixteen

Page 21 text:

. M ,, ., l. gf .gif 4 fi 1. -17 A if f , .S 3 fini: ., .V i ,l Ul ,,,. ,-fc. , !,,-, ' W, .4ff,aff,4 , My ., ps ,i . 2- i'. .s .1 , My A ' 1 il Glharlw Armiateah Ialamtun, HH. E. AMPDFN-SIDNEY COLLEGE from the time of her institution until the present day has been noted for the remarlcable personnel of the men who have constituted her Board of Trustees. l'residents, governors. congressmen. legislators, jurists, clergymen, eminent business and professional men have been on the roster of trustees. Not alone in the past has been her glory in this respect. For an examination of the roll of the present membership of the Board of Trustees will disclose the same notable personnel. lt is an impressive and most inspiring fact that such men leading busy lives and wielding great indu- ence in their different professional spheres are willing to give and do give so lib- erally of their time and means to one of the so-called smaller colleges. This explains to some degree the wonderful influence which the College has exerted, and accounts in large measure for the fine body of young men who annually fill her halls. Among the present membership of the trustees, none, perhaps, is more de- voted to the College, more active in her behalf, more liberal with his means for her advancement, more willing to give his time and influence for her continued progress. and rejoices more in her success and prosperity than Dr. Charles Arm- istead Blanton, to whom this volume of the Kaleidoscope is dedicated. The young men of the College honor themselves and the College in honoring Dr. Blanton. It is always interesting to learn something of the early history of one who is in the public eye, and so some facts of the early life and intluences surrounding the subject of this sketch may not be amiss. Dr. Charles A. Blanton was born at XYest Hill. Cumberland Co., Ya., July 23, 1859, under the very shadow of old Hampden-Sidney. He was the youngest son of Dr. Philip Southall Blanton, himself a first honor graduate of the College. a distinguished physician. and a man of most scholarly attainments. His mother was Mrs. Nancy Miller Armistead Blanton. second daughter of the Rev. Dr. Jesse S. .-Xrmistead, a theologian of wide reputation in his day, and a most elo- quent and forceful preacher, honored and revered throughout the South, but espe- cially beloved in southside Virginia, himself a graduate of the College and for twenty-six years a member of her Board of Trustees. Dr. Blanton's early ancestors came to Yirginia from Lancashire, England. and settled in Cumberland County in 1700. the Hrst settler being Robert Blanton. The name Blanton was or is a corruption of the Scotch Border family name, Bal- lantine, the evolution being through Ballentine, to Blantine, Blanten. Blanton. Reference is found as early as 1459 to the family. - -- Page Fiffecn

Page 23 text:

. ,...,,.--M M, ,.., N, - 11-1 - 'r' 9 l . 2,1 MW,-yi,-agfgf,ff:-wzffizfi,-Tfimzf-,Wfa-,,3J:,47,,,nljff-25 ,L ,W W : ll' 5 , M Q., ' ' ,f. ' , , . Q, 'f-f4f.a..,-f '.f,,11f,f , H . '.f ' :-f --' '- ff ' L . . - ? -. - ni identified himself with their interests and his home was open to any who were his children's associates, The result has been two-fold: The young men have growninto manhood with right conceptions of life and its responsibilities and are about to enter upon the practice of their profession with honor and ability. and Dr. Blanton seems to have found the fountain of youthf for in so entering into the life of the youth, he has kept himself young in heart and appearance, and in many ways can keep pace with the active young student of the College. A second striking feature of Dr. Blanton is his love for the cause of right- eousness and truth. XYith such an ancestry on both sides. one could expect nothing but a strong religious tendency in him. In early life he united with the Presbyterian Church, the church of his forefathers. In choosing Richmond as his home, he united with the First Presbyterian Church in which he was soon elected to the Deaconate and later unanimously made a Ruling Elder which posi- tion he now holds and fills. Dr. Blanton is thoroughly interested in everything that pertains to the church and the increase of righteousness in the world. Scarcely a Sabbath passes when he is not at his place in the church: often fit the night services, and as frequently as his patients will permit him, at the XYednesday evening services. He is liberal in the support of the church and all charitable causes. and ever ready and cheerfully willing to do his part in all humanitarian and educational work as well, A third striking feature of Dr. Blanton is his love for his profession. Being the son of a physician, he was early impressed with the opportunities of such a calling. He gave himself diligently to his preparation, not as a mere matter of routine but as the lover of his labors. The result is that he has one of the largest practices, and is looked upon by the medical fraternity, as well as by the public, as one of the ablest and most successful practitioners. Seest thou a man diligent in his-business, he shall stand before kings. Gentle in his manner, sympathetic in his work, careful in his examinations, attractive in his appearance, approachable to all, skillful in his ministrations, he brings comfort and often relief by his very presence in the sick room as well as by his medical ability and experience. In addi- tion, Dr. Blanton is popular with all classes of people, and his companionship enjoyed by all who have the benefit of it. Young people especially are devoted to him, and he is able to throw off the professional air and manner and make himself a welcome guest to the youngest and oldest. The fourth striking characteristic of Dr. Blanton is his interest in and love for Hampden-Sidney College. Though not an alumnus of the College, owing to circumstances over which he had no control, he naturally inherits a love for the College and its traditions, his father being a first-honor graduate. and his grand- father on his maternal side being also a graduate and for over a quarter of a cen- ,ix ' CJ Page Szwenteelz