USA > Virginia > Frederick County > Frederick County > Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia. > Part 83
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
The fourth child was Miss Rebecca Tavenner, mentioned elsewhere in connection with the Bry- arly homestead.
The fifth child was Joseph, who moved to Mis- souri many years ago. His brother Albert fol- lowed later on .. Both married, and were promi- nent business men in their section.
The 7th was Emma, who married her cousin, Brown Tavenner. Their son, Alvin J. Tavenner, lives with his aunt Rebecca. A brother of Al- vin's lived in Ill. at one time.
The 8th child was John V. Tavenner, married and lived in Loudoun County, and then returned to Frederick; purchased the old Cather farm on Flint Ridge, and there reared his family. He is mentioned elsewhere as the representative of Frederick County in the House of Delegates. He is now living in Norfolk, Va. The Taven- ners have numerous connections-through the Janneys of Loudoun and other families.
Mr. Stacey Tavenner is mentioned elsewhere as one of the old time school-masters. The writer can testify that he was a "tutor" in the strictest sense 1849-50.
The Myers Family
This name appears among the pioneers, and were of that class who stood by their "clearings," when Lord Fairfax instituted suits of ejectment. The settlements made by them in what became Hampshire County, still later Morgan County, were of the "Tomahawk" claim; but as they were good sentinels on the outposts, they escaped seri- ous litigation, but were subjected to Indian forays. Henry Myers came to Frederick County about 1840, and purchased a farm near the Hack- wood Spring. He had married Mary Sherrard daughter of Robert Sherrard, a sister of Judge Sherrard of Winchester. While Henry lived in Morgan County, he had born to him the fol- lowing children : Mary S., who became the wife of C. Lewis Brent; Betty B. who married J. Chap Riely; and Wm. H. Myers, born 1831. He married in 1857 Mary J. dau. of John Harman. Children by this union : Mary, (now Mrs. J. W. Taylor), John H., Henry, Ann Lee, Wm. M., Florence and Elizabeth. Mrs. Taylor is the mother of several sons and daughters, James W. the young merchant on West Water Street, being one of her sons. John H. and Henry are suc- cessful farmers of the home farm. Their father was Capt. Wm. H. Myers a gallant officer in the Laurel Brigade; has been dead several years.
463
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
The Silver Family
This family came to the Valley early in the 19th Century, and settled in Berkeley County. This was Francis Silver and family. He had one son Zepheniah, who was born in Berkeley County. He married a daughter of Hiram Hen- shaw, of English origin. Mr. Silver purchased a fine property on Applepie Ridge and spent the remainder of his life in Frederick; died in 1875, at the age of 74. He had several sons who served in the Confederate Army, Capt. Frank Silver being one. His son Gray is now State senator in the West Va. legislature.
The only one of the name in Frederick to- day is John M. Silver, son of Zepheniah. He has been twice married; first wife Miss Parkins; she left one son Byard. The second wife was a daughter of Dr. Daniel Janney, and sister of Drs. J. E. and Mac Janney. She is the mother of several children. Mr. Silver lives at the Dan- iel Janney homestead (Welltown). John M. Silver has been mentioned elsewhere as one of the county supervisors and member of the House of Delegates from Frederick County.
The Silver family of the Valley came from Silver Spring, Penna. They might be considered as English-Scotch-Irish origin, as the name has been identified with these countries. The Hen- shaw family, with whom Zepheniah Silver inter- married, is one of great antiquity, found in Eng- land when two men of the name took shipping from that coast in the 17th Century, and landed in Massachusetts. From those two brothers, came the Henshaws of America, so far as known, -certainly those found in Penna., Maryland and Virginia.
This name must not be confounded with the splendid German family Hancher, so well repre- sented by James, Thomas and others on Apple- pie Ridge.
Col. Frank Silver married Mary, a daughter of James W. Gray, Esq. Their children are Martha (named for her grandmother Martha Henshaw), familiarly known as Miss Georgie, the trained nurse. Her sister Odelia is the wife of J. W. S. Boyd son of John Boyd the scout- one child John E., Jr .; another sister, Anna Beall, married Lester C. Hoffman; another Mary Llewellyn Silver. Their brother, Senator Gray Silver married Miss Kate Bishop recently.
Augustine Huntsberry left a large family of children, viz : Henry, Jacob, John, Edward C., Mrs. Robt. T. McVicar and Mrs. James H. Faulkner (first wife). Henry and family live in Winchester. His children are George, Harry, Lucy, Wm. Augustine and Melly.
Jacob lives in Rockingham County. John married Miss Grant.
Edward C. married daughter of Oscar Barr, and is mentioned elsewhere.
Augustine had two sisters, Mrs. Catherine Kyle and Mrs. Cain. The latter's husband is of the highly respected family found along the Opec- quon in early days.
The Steck Family
In connection with the sketch of the Green- wood Homestead, (the home of Samuel the emi- grant), this family has been briefly mentioned. Dr. M. Steck, son-in-law of Thomas Wood, of Penna., came to Virginia with his family in 1880, and occupied the old homestead, as al- ready shown. His family consisted of his wife and three children: John M., Thomas W., and Rachael.
Dr. Steck was a man of sterling character, and immediately commanded the respect and es- teem of the entire community. His sudden death within one year of his arrival, was deeply de- plored by his new friends. The Doctor held several important offices under President Fill- more, and was nominated for Lieut. Governor of Pennsylvania in 1878; received a large vote, but not sufficient to elect his ticket over the Repub- licans, whose numerical strength was great.
His son Thomas W. is one of the leading fruit growers in the county; and takes pleasure in showing what the modernized Greenwood farm has done under his management; while his accom- plished mother dispenses the hospitalities of the old homestead in such manner worthy the ap- proval of those she has succeeded. Her son John M. married Miss Cover and has been men- tioned elsewhere.
The Coe Family
This was a well-known family in the early part of the 19th Century. Three brothers, Wil- liam, Craven and John Coe came to Winchester from Maryland by way of Loudoun County. John remained but a short time; sold his interest in a lot of ground to his brother William, where they started the celebrated Coe's Tavern men- tioned in this volume. John, after accumulating considerable property, including a farm near Winchester, sold out and went, first to Baltimore, and then to Tennessee. The tavern went into the hands of Robert Brannon for many years.
William purchased a large farm in the N. West part of Frederick, where he and his brother Craven Coe lived for many years. Craven sur- vived his brother and, as the writer knew him, he commanded the respect of the entire com- munity. His son Charles lives in that section, and other descendants by intermarriage.
John C. Coe, son of John Coe and Louisa Fenton, born 1836, has been known to Winches-
464
CARTMELL'S HISTORY
ter people for thirty years as the proprietor of the Coe Dairy, of Jersey cows. He owns a fine farm two miles East of Winchester, and in all these years has maintained a high reputation for his famous dairy. In his early days, he sought fortune in the West ;- was once a conductor on the Illinois Central Railroad. He married Celia Collins, of Toledo, Ohio, in 1858. They have two children. The son, De Soto Coe, was an officeholder in the Internal Revenue Department, under President Cleveland, and so efficient, that the Harrison administration did not remove him for some time. He again returned to the De- partment under Cleveland's second term, and held important places as inspector of storekeepers, etc. He married Miss Savage, of Kernstown. He is now living in Frederick County-a good farmer and an ardent Democrat.
The Brannon Family
This family name has been familiar to Winches- ter and Frederick County during the 18th, 19th, and 20th Centuries. The first to appear in the land records was John Brannon. He obtained a grant from the Commonwealth June 26, 1789, for 552 acres of waste land on drains of Back Creek. He sold portions off in 1791, and from that day to the present, the Brannon family has had some of the name living in that section. John, however, had resided in Winchester pre- vious to that date, and was in business on Cam- eron Street. The John Brannon found in the list of Revolutionary Soldiers, possibly was this man, though we have nothing to prove it. Perhaps none of the name was so generally known prior to 1850 as Robert Brannon, the famous old tavern keeper of Winchester. For fifty years he had been before the public, and owned large interests in every enterprise. He was a leading politician in his day. His tavern stands have received at- tention in other chapters. He died 1851. His executors in March, 1852, report an inventory of great length, enumerating the articles and furni- ture used in his tavern business; his horses and vehicles in great numbers indicate a large livery business ; and his farm products and implements would mark him a farmer, while from his list of "likely young negroes," he might be taken for a slave dealer. The writer has often heard him mentioned as an all-around man. A race track East of town, bore his name for a full century.
The family history credits John Brannon, the Irish emigrant, with twelve children, most of whom went West; and their descendants live in Kentucky and Ohio. Among those who remained in Frederick County, were three of his children : Robert, Levi, and Rachael who married Evan Thatcher. All three of these men served in the
War of 1812, and drew pensions, as already shown.
Robert Brannon's children were: John, born 1821, Harriet, Stewart, Morgan, Henry and Rach- ael. John became the famous lawyer of West Virginia. Harriet was the wife of Henry Mc- Daniel (already mentioned). Their only son, Lieut. McDaniel, died in a Northern prison in 1863. Stewart died in Clarke County in 1859; Morgan died in Winchester, Va., 1900. He had been one of the trusted friends and employees of Chas. B. Rouss. Henry, the only living child of Robert, is Judge Brannon of the Supreme Court of West Virginia, with 18 years service. He was born in 1837. Rachael married Evan Thatcher in 1817; had 5 children: John, Cather- ine, Mary, Brannon and Evan R. The latter was one of the Supervisors of Frederick County. Brannon lived on the North Frederick Turn- pike, near the Fair Grounds; built the brick house where Ed. Frieze now lives, and there reared his family. He was one of Winchester's famous butchers in the good old times when the market- house had well arranged meat stalls, and all fam- ilies visited their favorite stall every Wednes- day and Saturday-the regular market days- and laid in a supply.
A brother of Robert was killed by Dr. Bull who was a brother of Mrs. Genl. John Smith, of Hackwood. This occurred about 1818. Bull com- mitted suicide.
Levi Brannon, brother of Robert, lived on the Brannon farm in the Pughtown section, and raised a large family. He married Ruth Gray and had 12 children. His son Will was killed at the Wilderness in 1864-one of the gallant young members of the Boomerang Company from Winchester. L. Gray Brannon, another son, mar- ried a daughter of Craven Coe; they had several children. One son, J. William, is in the mer- cantile business at Whitacre and owns part of the old home tract. R. Bruce is a prosperous far- mer. His other son, C. Coe Brannon, is now Comr. of the Revenue for the Northern Dist. of Frederick. All worthy young men, and are maintaining the good name of their father.
John Brannon, son of Robert, who owned the old tavern, corner Fairfax Lane and Loudoun Street, sold out and moved West between 1830 and 1840. He had several sons : James, Stephen, William and Reese.
The Hoover Family
This is one of the oldest families to settle in Winchester, about 1766. Many lines have run down from this family. They have been noted for their integrity and unassuming lives. Frequently, however, they filled posts of honor in the town, and the name always appears with respectable
465
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
and commendable enterprises. They can be strictly classed with the best Yeomanry of the early days. Those of the name have become few. Charles E. Hoover, superintendent of water and streets, and his family, are well known. He was born in 1845; married twice. First wife was Alice V. Grim, who died in 1872, four years after her marriage. Second wife was Miss Ramey, of Penn. Mr. Hoover's father, grandfather and great grandfather bore the name of John; and his son John, who has been connected with news- paper business, beginning with the Evening Item, is endowed with the peculiar talent that local editors require to make their articles and criti- cisms please all readers. His cheery salutations gain him many friends as well as items for his paper.
The Haymaker Family
This family belongs to the Colonial period, and Winchester has never been without good rep- resentatives of this family since that period. We find Adam Haymaker the gunsmith of the early war period, very much in evidence. His services were greatly in demand, making and re- pairing the old-time Flintlock guns. He had several assistants who had been apprenticed to him to learn the trade. The old fellow seemed to have things his own way. For example, we give the tenor of indenture papers between Henry Brinker and himself, when the son, George Brinker, entered the shops on Cameron Street. George was then 17 years 9 months and 14 days old. He was bound to Haymaker to serve his time until he was 21 years old. Henry Brinker signed his name in German, he being one of Joist Hite's emigration. Brinker was to furnish his son good wearing apparel, hat and shoes, pay doctor's bills, etc .; and agreed that his son "should neither buy nor sell any article, nor go to taverns, nor play cards or throw dice, nor go to race-tracks, nor absent himself, nor commit fornication, without his master's permission." Adam was simply to get the boy's time and ser- vice for the "meat and drink he chose to give him."
There was a John Haymaker who bought a lot from Philip Bush on Cameron Street, and also a lot on the common. This was in 1778. The family intermarried with Winchester fam- ilies ; and although we find very few of the name in the town at this writing, many descendants are here. William Haymaker who died since the Civil War, was a man of property; left a large family. Several sons have been well-known me- chanics, brick-masons, carpenters, cabinet-makers, plasterers, etc. Capt. James M. Haymaker, who has been member of the City Council and Cap- tain of the Friendship Fire Company for many years, is in active business, although he experi-
enced four years of faithful service as a Confed- erate soldier. His father was a son of Adam, the son of Adam the gunsmith. James M. married Lucy E. Davis and has the following children : Mrs. Frank Anderson, Mrs. Wm. Breckenridge and James C. Haymaker.
When the writer was a boy, he knew an old man of this name who lived on the N. W. Turn- pike four miles from Winchester, near a fine Spring. The walls of the spring-house are in good condition now and the water just as cold. This was Henry Haymaker. He was highly re- spected by his neighbors. He had a large fam- ily, three sons: John, Charles and George-all married and moved westward. He had one daughter who married John Barr who raised a large family: Sons Robert and James. His daughters married H. Wigginton, A. W. Hodg- son and M. Ritchcreek. They all left families. The A. W. Hodgson family live in and about the town. This name Haymaker has often been confounded with the Hammakers and Ham- ichers-the first being English. The latter bears evidence of German descent in early conveyances.
George Haymaker, the well-known cabinet- maker, a great-great-grandson of Adam and son of Jno. W. Haymaker and Sophia Grim, lives on part of the lot where Adam had his shop. This was lot No. 202 on S. Market Street, de- scribed in deed from Lord Fairfax, dated 1753- Part of this lot has never changed name of owners. Geo. Haymaker was born 1844; married Rebecca, daughter of Levi Grim; their children being Annie, William, Cora, Minnie and Louella. George had several brothers and sisters, all now dead. The daughters of John W. Haymaker were Rebecca, married James Hoey-no children.
Hannah Haymaker married William C. Lang- ley, father of Philip Langley who lives near Stephenson, the oldest representative of the name. William C. came from Ohio; married his wife Feby. 15, 1826, and returned to Ohio. After a short residence there, he returned to Frederick County, where he rented a farm on Applepie Ridge, the property of Wm. L. Clark. When the Winchester & Potomac Railroad was under con- struction, Mr. Clark selected his tenant to pur- chase certain materials for its equipment. Philip, who was born in 1840, was conductor on this railroad for 14 years, and had four sons to serve as engineers and conductors for many years. Three are now on the Valley Division. Philip has in his possession the old family flesh-fork, nearly two feet long, with the words "1804, made by Adam Haymaker," graved on this old-time cooking utensil. The lettering is brazed and is perfect now. Philip had several brothers and sis- ters. Rebecca married Henry V. Willis, father of William Willis, husband of Florence Hodgson.
466
CARTMELL'S HISTORY
A cousin was Lisle Langley, single, who died an old man. His sister Harriet married Mr. Marst- tella. A daughter by this marriage is the wife of City Justice Wilson. Mary, a sister of Lisle Langley, was the wife of William Lauck, the machinist and gunmaker.
The Barr Family
The first appearance of this name in the County records, is that of George Peter Barr, who came from Loudoun County, and acquired an interest in land through his wife, which they sold to Martin Frieze. This was in 1766; and in 1770 he settled on 100 acres adjoining Major Maxwell's grant. This was in the western part of Frederick. This was the Jacob Morgan tract which Geo. Peter Barr's executors sold in 1816. Robert B. and John Barr appear in the Western part of the county at this time, and James pur- chased a tract from John Brannon West of Pugh's Town. Hugh Barr was then living in Winchester, one of the old-time brickmakers.
I He conducted business on a large scale. Many old buildings show his peculiar brick. Orders of court show he furnished brick for the present court house and jail.
Robert B. Barr, third son of George Peter Barr, removed his large family from Frederick County to Winchester about 1812, and purchased property on South Loudoun Street. His wife was Ariminta Avery, of Fairfax County. Their children were: James, John Hugh, Robert, Wil- liam, Cornelius B., Ann and Elizabeth. James moved to Staunton and married. His children Were Robert, John and Elizabeth. They con- tinued to live in that section, and intermarried with families of the Upper Valley.
John Barr married Ann, daughter of Henry Haymaker (as already shown in Haymaker Fam- ily Sketch.)
Hugh Barr married Elizabeth Arnold; their children being Ellen, Ann, Oscar, Hugh, William and Clinton. Ellen married Robert Kurtz; Ann married Richard O'Roak.
Oscar Barr married (first) Lucy J. Kerrell, daughter of Dempsey Kerrell, of Loudoun Coun- ty. Children by this marriage were Virginia who married C. E. Huntsberry. Their children are :
Walter E., married Miss Stine. Thomas M., married Miss Seal.
Mary E., married A. E. Dabney, of Staunton, Va.
Oscar's second wife was Miss McKinster, 1885. They have one daughter Rebecca, unmarried. Oscar Barr, one of the retired merchants of Winchester, was born July 1, 1835, in Winches- ter. He has been identified with the best interests of the city during his entire life, save his four
years of service in the Confederate Army, and a few years' residence as a merchant in Hamp- shire County, West Va. While resident in Hamp- shire County, prior to the Civil War, he was Captain of Company in Col. Monroe's 114th Regt. Va. Militia; and was with the Colonel in his disastrous engagement at Blue's Gap. He then enlisted in Company A., Marion Rifles; served three years and was then transferred to the 23rd Va. Cavalry. During the war he was frequently detailed to assist surgeons in field hospitals, because of his nerve, and knowledge and experience with wounded men. After the War, Mr. Barr controlled a large mercantile business on North Main Street, until he was succeeded by his son Walter E., who retired later by reason of ill-health. The father entered business again, to be succeeded by his son Thomas M. Mr. Barr has filled many posts of trust under the City government.
Hugh Barr, brother of Oscar, was Drum Major of the 5th Reg. Va. Infantry. William and Clin- ton the other brothers, made their homes in Texas, and are men of prominence and wealth. William was a gallant soldier in Capt. Jack Adams' Cavalry Company, which won distinc- tion.
Robert Barr, son of Robert Barr and Aramin- ta Avery, his wife, was born June 27, 1811. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Peter Kree- mer. Their five children were: Julia, married Charles Correll. They had children, one being J. E. Correll, who has been Commissioner of the Revenue for Winchester for several terms.
James W., son of Robert, married Miss Wall; children being Willie and Frank (twins). Owen (dead), Elizabeth, married Samuel Atwell. The father died several years ago. He was well known for many noble traits; and filled places of trust with signal ability. He was a member of the mercantile firm of Kern, Barr & Co., doing business on corner of Market and Piccadilly Streets for many years subsequent to the Civil War.
Edward M. Barr, son of Robert, has been for many years the well-known brick manufacturer. He married Emma, daughter of James Kiger. Their children are Charles, Frederick S., Mary Jackson and Edward Mitchell.
Elizabeth Barr, daughter of Robert, married W. W. Wall. Issue, 3 daughters and 2 sons. Mary married Fred S. Barr; Grace married Dal- getty Kerr; Julia, unmarried. One son, Dr. Harry Wall, lives in Norfolk; Taylor lives in Winchester.
Rebecca Wall, daughter of Robert, married Newton A. Swartz. They have several chil- dren.
Robert Barr married Sydney Jackson for his
468
CARTMELL'S HISTORY
notice of this and other distinguished families of Berkeley, as well as Jefferson Counties. In the early days the Bedinger, Pendleton, Lucas, Gray, Lewis, Tabb, Cunningham, Harrison, Bell, Bry- arly, Burnett and many other families of this class, were identified with the settlements. Many others have been mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
The Griffith Family
No effort will be made to write a sketch of this large family, whose many lines are found in almost every State in the Union; nor is it nec- essary to trace the family that came from Ches- ter County, Penna., in 1777 and settled in Fred- erick County. The comprehensive genealogy, re- cently published and now found in the Griffith families, covers the period from their first ar- rival in America to the present date; and space will only admit of a bare mention of those who were numerous in Frederick County in the lat- ter part of the 18th and during the 19th Cen- turies. The Griffiths were of Welsh origin. Three brothers emigrated from Wales because of their oppressions, and settled in Pennsylvania about 1716. One of the brothers named John was the ancestor of the Frederick County families of this name, which was spelled at the time of his ar- rival in America, in Welsh, Gruffydd; and then for the first time the name of Griffith or Griffiths, became established as a surname with the suc- ceeding generations. John, 2nd, son of the John Griffith just mentioned, was born in Chester County, Penna., June 13, 1737; died in Fred- erick County, Virginia, Jany. 22, 1833. He mar- ried his first wife Oct. 1I, 1768, in York, Penna. She was Mary, daughter of Jesse and Martha Faulkner. He married his second wife, Mary Ellis, who lived on Crooked Run East of Stephensburg, Frederick County, Va. No issue by this marriage. Children by his first wife were:
(1) Martha, born 1769, mar. Jos. Morgan, no issue.
(2) Mary, born 1771, mar. Asa Hoge.
(3) Jesse, born 1776; died 1777.
(4) John, born 1778, is the John Griffith in whom we are now interested. He was born in Frederick County, Va .; spent his long life of 92 years in the County, surrounded by his large progeny of several generations. His will is re- corded in the County Clerk's Office, wherein he mentions his children, and devised a sum to be used by his son Aaron H., towards the repairs and improvement of the Hopewell Graveyard. He married Rachael, daughter of Joseph and Mar- tha Hackney, Apl. 15, 1801. She died 1863. He had children by this marriage:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.