My Genealogy Hound

Prof. M. P. Venable, principal of the classical school of the Commercial College rooms, of Little Rock, was originally from the Old Dominion, where his birth occurred in 1846. He passed his boyhood days in that State, and graduated from the regular course in the University of Virginia, in 1869. He was then engaged in teaching school in his native town until he came to Arkansas. During the above period he gave a portion of his time to the newspaper business, and later was public school superintendent of his home county in Virginia for a number of years. He came to Arkansas in 1875 to take charge of Fort Smith high school and acted as superintendent of the same for eleven years. After this he had charge of the Paris Academy for two years, at the end of which time he came to Little Rock and established the present classical school in connection with Little Rock Commercial College. He is professor of languages and mathematics in the Commercial College also, and makes a specialty of preparing students for eastern colleges, and preparing cadets for West Point. He limits his number of students to about forty. Prof. Venable is one of the most proficient mathematicians and linguists in the South, and the student who passes from his hand may consider himself well-worthy the position to which Prof. Venable has recommended him to apply. The Professor was married in his native State to Miss F. Miles, a graduate of North Washington College, Va., and is now a teacher in Arkansas Female College. Their union was blessed by the birth of four interesting children: George, Fitzhugh, Luther R. and Gertrude V. The great forefathers of Prof. Venable were Norman-French, and came to England with William the Conqueror. One of them at one time was in charge of the city of Paris. The family came to America in 1852. There were soldiers in this family while in England, and there has always been one member to represent the same in the English navy. Grandfather Venable was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and is the Venable defended by Patrick Henry for killing a cow for beef for the soldiers. Venable was a commissary officer. Prof. M. R. Venable was color-bearer in Ross’ division of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War, and served three and a half years, surrendering at Appomattox Court House.