USA > Virginia > Prince Edward County > Prince Edward County > A history of Prince Edward County, Virginia: from its formation in 1753, to the present > Part 21
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In 1862, in company with his cousin, Lieutenant Car-
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rington, he "joined the cavalry" being attached to the 5th Virginia cavalry, and served until the end of the war. He was severely wounded in 1863 and performed his last service at Appomattox Court House in 1865.
After the surrender, the courts being closed, young Hundley organized a private school at Howardsville, Va., and taught school until February 1866, when he settled at Buckingham Court House, Va., to practice law. When he went there, after purchasing some civilian clothes, he had exactly $15 left in cash, but soon got a good practice, and with the proceeds, paid off his debts then remaining un- paid. He took an active part in the struggles of the best people against the oppressions and outrages of the enemies of the South, in the days of the Re-Construction Period.
Young Hundley was nominated for the Virginia Senate from Buckingham district, twice. The first time he was de- feated by a small majority, in a district with an overwhelm- ing negro majority. The second time he was nominated by the Conservatives, or Democrats, of that day, during his absence from the district, without solicitation on his part, and was elected by a good majority, and served in the Senate for four years.
At the close of his term in the Senate, he declined re- election and moved to Richmond to practice his profession. He had enough of political office holding, but, whilst still in the Senate, and also subsequent to his retirement from poli- tics, he championed the cause of white supremacy, and can- vassed the State in every election for the cause of democ- racy and white rule. While he was still in the Senate, a bill was passed re-organizing the Militia of the State and he was appointed a Brigadier-General of Militia, by Gov- ernor Walker. ,
While in Richmond he purchased an estate near Amelia
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History of Prince Edward County
Court House and, having married, he moved to his home county of Amelia and practiced law there and in adjoining counties, and sometimes argued cases in other States. In 1895 an attempt was made to repeal the Walton Law, which was, at that time, the only protection the people of south- side Virginia had against negro domination, by a proper restriction of suffrage, and General Hundley, as he was then known, was appealed to by the Democrats of Nottoway and Amelia, to stand for election to the Legislature. This he refused to do at first, but being assured that he would be elected without opposition, he consented and was returned. Some leading Democrats from the white sections of the State, who had been leaders in the Legislature for many ses- sions, championed the repeal of the Walton Law. Mr. Hundley led the defenders of that law and, after the hardest fight of his life, succeeded in defeating the repeal of the law, thereby saving white supremacy in south-side Virginia, until the new Constitution established it permanently by Consti- tutional restrictions of Suffrage.
In 1898 Governor Tyler appointed Mr. Hundley Judge of the 3rd Judicial District of Virginia, composed at that time of nine counties; viz: Amelia, Powhatan, Cumberland, Buckingham, Appomattox, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Lunen- burg, and Mechlenburg. Under the new Constitution, Judge Hundley having removed to Farmville, the circuit was di- vided, and he became Judge of the present 5th Judicial Dis- trict, composed of five counties. He has been on the Bench for twenty-four years, during which time he has tried many important and celebrated cases.
Judge Hundley is descended, on his father's side, from Josiah Hundley, who emigrated from England in 1759 and settled in Williamsburg, Va., and through his mother, Cor- nelia Jefferson, from the Jeffersons of the Revolution. His grandfather was George Jefferson, who was the first cousin,
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History of Prince Edward County
intimate friend, and boyhood playmate, of Thomas Jeffer- son, President of the United States. Through his mother, he is descended also, from Elizabeth Giles, the only sister of Governor Wm. B. Giles, of Virginia. His grandfather, John Garland Jefferson, of Amelia, was a protege of President Jefferson, who took him to Monticello, to read law under his supervision, and in President Thomas Jefferson's works, Vol. 4, page 388, there is published a letter to George Jeffer- son. In Vol 5, of the same work, there is published a letter to John Garland Jefferson, son of George Jefferson. Both of these letters are couched in the most affectionate terms.
Judge Hundley's ancestors have fought for their coun- try in every war, Colonial or National, that this country has been engaged in. He, himself, served throughout the War between the States, during which he was severely wound- ed. His father Josiah Hundley the 3rd, served under Gen- eral Taylor, in the Mexican war.
Judge Hundley's son, Robert Garland Hundley, was trained at Fort Meyer, and commissioned as Lieutenant of Infantry when barely old enough to receive a commission, and served through the Great World War in France, during which he was severely wounded. He is now practicing law in Richmond.
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JOSEPH L. JARMAN, A.B., LL.D., President State Fe- male Normal School, Farmville, Va.
Dr. Jarman, fourth President of the State Female Norm- al School, Farmville, Virginia, was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, on the 19th of November, 1867. His father, Wil- liam Dabney Jarman, served in the Confederate Army, in the War between the States. His mother was Catherine Goodloe Lindsay, of the well known Lindsay family of Albemarle county.
His early education was obtained in the public schools of Charlottesville. At the early age of fourteen (having been left an orphan) he was sent to the Miller Manual Labor School, where he remained from 1881 to 1886. In competi- tive examination he won the Miller Scholarship at the Uni- versity of Virginia, where he was a student from 1886 to 1889, devoting himself especially to the natural and physical sciences.
Upon the completion of his course at the University of Virginia, he returned to Miller School as a member of the faculty, but remained there for only one year, as, at the end of that time, he was called to the chair of natural science at Emory and Henry College. He remained at Emory and Henry for twelve years, leaving there in January 1902, to take up his present position at Farmville.
During his stay at Emory and Henry College the degree of A.B., was conferred upon him by that institution, and, since he has been in Farmville, Hampden-Sidney College has honored itself by conferring upon him the degree of LL.D.
Dr. Jarman is a member of the American Chemical So- ciety; the American Society for the Advancement of Science; and the Virginia Historical Society. He was a member of
JUDGE GEORGE JEFFERSON HUNDLEY Fifth Judicial District See Page 356.
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the State Board of Education for eight years, viz: from 1906 to 1914; and was Chairman for the Red Cross; the Y. M. C. A .; and the United War-Work campaigns during the World's War, securing from Farmville and Prince Ed- ward County the splendid total of approximately $25,000, for these interests.
Notwithstanding his multitudinous duties, Dr. Jarman is very active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Farmville, of which he is a loyal and consistent member, being Chairman of the Official Board of that Church.
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History of Prince Edward County
JUDGE ASA DICKINSON WATKINS.
Judge Watkins was born in 1856 and has lived in Prince Edward county all his life. He is one of the most influ- ential and best esteemed citizens of Farmville, in that coun- ty, having been officially intimately acquainted with the pub- lic affairs of the county since he was twenty-one years of age.
He was Judge of the County Court from 1886 to 1891, and Attorney for the Commonwealth from 1891 to the pres- ent time.
He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1897-98, and of the State Senate from 1899 to 1904.
He succeeded his father, the late Judge F. N. Watkins, in 1885, as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the State Female Normal School, at Farmville.
He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Hampden-Sidney College for the past twenty-nine years. He is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Negro Nor- mal and Industrial Institute of Petersburg, Virginia, and is a member of the State Inter-Racial Commission at the pres- ent time.
He is an ardent friend and an active exponent of educa- tion for the masses.
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church in Farm- ville where he served, first as Deacon, and later, as Elder, which latter office he still holds.
In 1886 he married Miss Nannie E. Forbes, daughter of Col. W. W. Forbes, of Buckingham county. His family con- sists of four sons and four daughters.
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Chapter Fifteen The Judiciary of Prince Edward County
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History of Prince Edward County
THE JUDICIARY OF PRINCE EDWARD
No inconsiderable part of such an historical sketch of the county as we are endeavoring to give, must rest in tra- dition. Tradition, properly substantiated, forms a legiti- mate source of history generally, because actual documentary evidence is not available in respect to many vital items of the history of the changeful conditions that have been the lot of the Southern States.
This is true in a very large measure respecting the Judici- ary of Prince Edward county.
Much of the subjoined matter was furnished by Judge George J. Hundley, from a peculiarly retentive memory, but in the material facts it has been verified by such document- ary evidence as is available.
Subsequent to the Revolutionary War, and prior to the War between the States, the Juduciary of the County, in the main, followed the subjoined plan :
The Court of Appeals, the highest State Court, was com- posed of five Judges, who were elected by the people under a restricted franchise. This system resulted in the election of men of high repute, so that this court was held in great respect. It had general jurisdiction.
The District Court of Appeals, which was composed of three Circuit Court Judges, elected by the people under re- stricted franchise, which had appellate jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases. '
The County Courts, composed of five Magistrates, were appointed by the Governor, and had general jurisdiction in civil cases, but in criminal cases acted as an examining board only. One of their number, selected by themselves, was ap- pointed to act as presiding magistrate. Under this system, one of their number, under the rule of seniority, was en-
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titled to the office of Sheriff. These courts stood very high in popular esteem, being usually composed of educated men, some of whom had even studied law, as was rather customary amongst the "gentlemen" of that day and period.
We have thus seen, that prior to the Civil War, the Judges were elected under a qualified white franchise, which resulted in the election of men of substance and standing, whose decisions stood high in the esteem of the superior courts. At this time, in order to be entitled to vote, the citizen was required to be a landowner, who could vote wherever he owned land.
Amongst the Judges thus selected were such men as Judge R. L. E. Moncure; Judge William Daniel; Judge William J. Robertson; of the Court of Appeals; and Judge William Leigh; Judge Lucius P. Thompson; Judge Hunter Marshall; Judge - Nash; Judge - Meredith; and Judge William Crump, of the Circuit Court.
During the war the Judges thus elected continued to dis- charge their duties. The above named Judges were in office during this period.
After the war these officers were removed, and others; in many cases disreputable men, were appointed by the mili- tary authorities who took supervision of the courts of justice. Virginia was made into Military District Number One, for this, and other purposes.
One of these military appointees, was one, Philip A. Bowling, a native of Buckingham, who presided over nine counties which included Amelia, Buckingham, and Prince Ed- ward counties. He belonged to one of the most prominent families of Virginia. During a debate between him and John Randolph of Roanoke, noted for the "edge" of his tongue when aroused, the latter referred to Bowling as "the degenerate son of a worthy sire." As a young man he gave
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every promise of a brilliant and useful career, possessing a fine mind and an imposing presence. He was elected to the Legislature while still in his early twenties, and supported a proposition to abolish slavery in Virginia, which was lost by a very narrow margin, said to be one vote. His vote is said to have been influenced by the fact that one, Arthur Tappen of Massachusetts, an ardent abolitionist, came to Rich- mond in order to advocate abolition, bringing with him his young daughter, a most attractive young woman, between whom and young Bowling an affection sprung up that re- sulted in their becoming engaged to be married. About this time a great agitation was made by the advocates of slavery, so that his vote in favor of abolition made him very unpopu- lar in certain influential quarters. He made desperate efforts to regain his popularity, but was ever afterwards unable to regain his former position, and gradually became a politi- cal pariah.
His family bitterly opposed his marriage to Miss Tappen and finally induced him to marry a Miss Eppes, a most ex- cellent young lady of North Carolina. Miss Tappen also married shortly afterwards.
Disappointed both matrimonially and politically, Bow- ling gradually sank until he became a drunkard and a gam- bler. His wife dying, he moved to Farmville, where he rented a small office, in which he slept and lived. While here, his very bedding was sold from under him for debt.
In the meantime the husband of the former Miss Tappen died, and hearing of it, Bowling wrote to her something after this fashion: "I am bankrupt in morals and in purse; I gamble and I drink whiskey; and if you will marry me I will come and see you at once;" to which she replied: "I. will be glad to see you." He went to Boston and saw her and they became engaged. Though her father was so bit- terly opposed to the marriage that he threatened to shoot
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Bowling, they were married and returned to Virginia to live.
It was this man whom General Canby, in charge of Mili- tary District No. 1, appointed as Judge over the district which included Prince Edward county. In order to qualify, Bowling took the "Iron Clad Oath" declaring therein that he had never sympathized with, or aided the South in the War between the States!
His wife, for whom he entertained a genuine affection, had a very salutary influence over him, so that he became somewhat less dissipated, but still remained far from a model of sobriety. Mrs. Bowling accompanied her husband on his circuit of the counties in his district and was much chagrined at his dissolute conduct, for she was a most ex- cellent woman. They lived on a farm near to Amelia Court House. Bowling continued to serve until the civil govern- ment was rehabilitated. After he was set aside upon that occurrence, he went back to his old life of dissipation.
The military supervision ended, the Underwood Con- vention; better known as the "Black and Tan Convention;" a convention make up of negroes, carpetbaggers, and scalawags (these "scalawags" were southerners who had turned rene- gades for money, or plunder reasons) assumed control and the "Reconstruction" days proper, began. This Convention, thus composed, proceeded to change the entire judicial sys- tem. It introduced the northern system, entailing a vast increase in the number of officers and in the amount of ex- pense for judicial purposes. They proceeded to disfranchise all the leading southerners who had participated in the war on behalf of the South, either in the Government or in the Army, so that they could neither vote nor hold office. Every man now elected to office, including the judiciary in all its branches, had to take what was known as the "Iron Clad Oath," thereby swearing that he had neither participated in,
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History of Prince Edward County
nor sympathized with, what was called "The Rebellion." The same oath was required of the voters. After this arrange- ment had been agreed to, a general election was ordered. Under the limited franchise thus achieved, vast numbers of the white men of the South were shut out from the polls, and every male negro of twenty-one years of age was per- mitted to vote. As one result of this plan many negroes were elected as Magistrates, Constables, etc., and some were sent to both Houses of Congress, and to both Houses of the State Legislature. They were also elected as County Clerks, Treas- urers, Commonwealth's Attorneys, etc. Amongst those sent to represent Prince Edward county in the State Legislature and Senate appear the names of James D. Bland (negro) John Robinson (negro) N. M. Griggs (negro). The Conven- tion generally was made up of negroes, carpetbaggers, and scalawags. The representatives of the South to both Houses of Congress were generally of the same type
When the native white southerners again secured con- trol in the Convention of 1901, the work of the Underwood Convention was set aside almost in its entirety, save that the system of County Judges in a modified form was retained, and the Magistrates Courts finally ceased to exist as form- erly. During the interim of the Underwood Convention Judge F. N. Watkins, Judge J. M. Crute, and Judge Asa D. Watkins, served as Judges in Prince Edward county. The Convention of 1901 did away with the purely county courts, as the Underwood Convention had done away with the purely magisterial courts. Under the Underwood Constitution the Circuit of the Fourth Judicial District, which included Prince Edward county, consisted of nine counties, in which court was held but twice in the year. Under the Constitution of 1901 the number of the counties were reduced to five, in each one of which court was held much more frequently.
The Circuit Judges, sitting in Prince Edward county
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under this Circuit arrangement, have been Judge Asa D. Dickinson, Judge Francis D. Irving, Judge Samuel F. Cole- man, and Judge George Jefferson Hundley, the present in- cumbent.
As previously stated, an orderly and exhaustive review of the judicial system as affecting Prince Edward county, is practically impossible within the scope of this work, but the foregoing will perhaps serve to give a general survey of the system.
The following are the present officers of the Court :
Horace Adams, Clerk.
Gordon E. West, Deputy Clerk. John A. Clark, Sheriff.
Judge Asa D. Watkins, Commonwealth's Attorney.
Chapter Sixteen Agriculture in Prince Edward County
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History of Prince Edward County
AGRICULTURE IN PRINCE EDWARD
The soil of the county is much like that generally pre- vailing in this part of the State. It is generally good, though in places somewhat "run down" through over-cultivation with- out adequate fertilization. It is varied, sandy, red and choco- late loams, or gray loam. It is generally rather highly pro- ductive and well adapted to the production of the various farm crops of this part of State. Tobacco, wheat, and corn, are the chief farm products of the county.
All forage crops, especially the legumes, are easily grown; and the grasses,-clover, timothy, red top,-show good profits.
This is not a natural grazing section, except for sheep, in which case, however, it ranks well, but its adaptability to forage crops and grasses, has given it some prominence as a dairying section. Cattle and hogs are profitably raised.
All fruits and vegetables, common to the State, do well. Potatoes frequently yield phenomenally well.
Marl, coal, and copper ore, are found in the county, with some evidence of the presence of other minerals.
The forest products are poplar, pine, and oak for the main part. In recent years there has been some considerable cutting of this timber. At the present time two flourishing lumber concerns are in operation in Farmville, besides sev- eral temporary concerns in other parts of the county.
The major part of the county is in a state of good cul- tivation. The surface of the land is rolling.
The land is watered by the Appomattox River and its many branches.
Agricultural statistics for the county will be found under the head of "Statistics" in chapter seventeen.
Chapter Seuentern
Prince Edward County Statistics
1. POPULATION.
2. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
3. VITAL STATISTICS.
4. AGRICULTURE.
.
٠
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History of Prince Edward County
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY STATISTICS
POPULATION
Total, 1920.
14,767.
Male
.. 7,410.
Female
7,357.
White
6,584.
Negro
8,183.
Negro majority
............. 2,401.
Increase in white population over census of 1910, 772.
Decrease in negro population from census of 1910, 275.
Per cent of negro population 55.4.
Population per square mile, 41.5.
Number of dwellings in county, 2,910.
Number of families in county, 3,055.
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History of Prince Edward County
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE, 1920. MARRIAGES.
White couples, 47. Black couples, 95. Total, 142.
DIVORCE DECREES GRANTED, 1920. -
Total for the county, 20. Adultery, 3; Desertion, 15; Cruelty, 1; Imprisonment, 1.
White Male Plaintiff: Adultery, 1; Desertion, 1. White Female Plaintiff: Adultery, 1; Desertion, 1. Black Male Plaintiff : Adultery, 1; Desertion, 7. Black Female Plaintiff : Desertion, 6.
It will be noted that the color of those alleging "Cruelty" and "Imprisonment" is not given.
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VITAL STATISTICS, 1920.
Total births 381
Illegitimate 35
Legitimate
346
DEATHS
Infants under one year 24
Typhoid
2
Whooping cough
3
Diphtheria
1
Influenza 11
Tuberculosis of lungs
31
Meningitis
1
Bronchitis 1
Pneumonia 17
Congenital debility
8
Other causes of early infancy
1
Cancer 4
Puerperal 2
Accidents
4
Burns
1
All other causes
83
Total 194
Excess of births over deaths
152
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History of Prince Edward County
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT *AGRICULTURE FOURTEENTH CENSUS: 1920.
Released July 14, 1921.
The director announces, subject to correction, the follow- ing preliminary figures from the Census of Agriculture, for Prince Edward county, Va.
Farms and Jan 1,
Farm Acreage. 1920
Apr. 15. 1910
FARM VALUES
FARMS
1,843
1,682
+9.6 Value of land and buildngs.
White farmers 859
758+13.3
Col'd farmers
984
924| +6.5 January 1, 1920
$6,650,780
Operated by
April 15, 1910
3,036,432
Owners and
managers
1,263
1,216 +3.9
Tenants 580
466+24.5
Increase, 1920 over 1910
Land in farms,
Total, acres 177,522
180,661
-1.7
Amount
3,614,348
Improved,
acres 71,373
66,177
+7.9 Per cent
119.0
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
Jan. 1 1920
Apr. 15 1910*
PRINCIPAL CROPS
Acres Harvested
Quantity Harvested
Farms reporting
1,746
1,589
1909
13,509
218,660, bu.
Animals reported : Horses
2,234
2,003
Mules
983
493
Cattle
4,067
4,394
Sheep
383
1,034
1919
7,056
Swine
6,821
6,008
1909
6,444
3,531,579 1bs. 5,107,637, 1bs.
Corn .. 1919
15,022
230,909, bu.
domestic animals
Wheat 1919
5,879
65,049, bu.
1909
4,744
49,457, bu.
Hay __ 1919
4,152
4,769, tons
1909
4,090
4,845, tons
Tobacco
-
*The figures for domestic animals in 1910 are not very closely comparable with those for 1920, since the present
Operated by
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History of Prince Edward County
census was taken in January, before the breeding season had begun, while the 1910 census was taken in April, or about the middle of the breeding season, and included many spring calves, colts, etc.
Chapter Eighteen
Miscellaneous
1. Social and Economic Conditions.
2. A Pathetic Letter.
3. An Old Court Order.
4. Wonder Booker and the Negro of his day.
5. Crown Deed from George the Second, Signed by Governor Gooch.
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History of Prince Edward County
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
In the early days of the Colony, almost as a matter of necessity, rather than of choice, the simple life was the general rule, for both the rich and the poor alike. What was true of the Colony generally was true of Prince Edward particularly.
In the modern acceptation of the term there was but very little comfort or luxury.
For the most part the houses were quite rude and gen- er ally small. Glazed windows were still somewhat of a curi- osity. All the lumber was sawn by hand and the nails were wrought by the blacksmith. Practically all articles of do- mestic use were made at home.
On nearly every plantation there were negro smiths, carpenters, masons, shoemakers, etc., and generally speak- ing, all implements of agriculture, few and very primitive, were homemade. The same was true of all house furnishings.
Roads were but little better than bridle-paths so that horseback was the usual mode of travel. A "bridal tour" usually meant that the bride went to the home of the groom, riding behind him on the same horse. Books were few, but that mattered little to most of the folk because they were for the most part, very busy during the daytime and there was little light for night-reading.
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