Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 90

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.]
Number of Pages: 607

USA > Virginia > Frederick County > Frederick County > Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia. > Part 90

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Many years ago there lived in Frederick Coun- ty Mr. Wm. B. Walter, a man prominent in his day, but remembered by but few of the present population. He was the father of the three brothers William B., Jr., Dorsey and Frank Walter, so well known to Winchester business men. Dorsey was a well-known figure in the courts, acting as a Commissioner in Chancery. He had the respect and confidence of the Win- chester Bar. His death occurred in 1908. He left a large family. Two sons give promise to maintain the good name of their father. One is cashier of a Georgia bank; Carroll is a young lawyer. Dorsey was a Confederate soldier. William B. has been previously mentioned as one of the clerks of the Corporation Court. Frank was a merchant in Winchester for several years. He is now a clerk in the Farmers and Merchants Bank. He has several children. He, too, was a Confederate soldier.

The Aulick Family

Charles Aulick, the progenitor of the Shenan- doah Aulicks, had four children : One son Charles went to Kentucky. Henry another son, was Com- modore Aulick of the U. S. Navy during the early part of the 19th Century. He had sev- eral children, all dead, one being Richmond Au- lick, who was Lieut. Comdr. in the Navy when he died. Frederick Aulick, the third son, lived and died in Winchester an old man. His wife was a Miss Smith. She was the mother of James and Alberta. The latter became Mrs. Kuhnert, the wife of a German professor of music. She survives her husband. George Au- lick, the fourth son, married Mary Crebs (Crepts). Her father was Conrad Crepts. He was a native of Hesse-Cassell, Germany ; and claimed that he was one of the Hessian soldiers connected with the British Army. Geo. Aulick's children were Eliza, Cordelia, Edwin, George who married and went to California, was the founder of the town Modesta, the citizens of which honored his memory by the erection of an im- posing monument. The next son Charles E., is Mr. Eugene Aulick, the extensive florist, liv- ing in the handsome property on South Brad- dock Street. He married Miss "Reb" Kreemer, daughter of James and Annie Kreemer. They have two children, Mary C. and Charles E

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Another son of George Aulick, was Hendren Au- ness at the old stand until he was elected clerk lick, generally known as Ernest, Surgeon in the U. S. Navy. He had won distinction for his services, when his untimely death in 1881 cut short his career.

Conrad Crepts, father of Mrs. George Aulick, married a Miss Bruner, of Maryland. His chil- dren were Conrad, Berry, Lewis, Harry and Mrs. Smoke, mother of Dr. E. B. Smoke of Fred- erick County.

Berry Crebs went to Illinois; married and lived in Carmow; left several children. His fam- ily became prominent in that section. His son John Crebs was M. C. from that District, and also Colonel of an Illinois Regiment during the Civil War.

Harry Crebs was the father of two well-known men John H., one of the police justices in Winchester, and Joshua N. Crebs of Kernstown, whose son Jack is a well-known hotel man in St. Louis.

Old records show that old Conrad Crepts could not have been a poor man when he chose to remain in Winchester and not return with the Hessian prisoners to his old country. His savings of gold coin, paid by England for his three years services, must have been hoarded by him; and when the war closed, he was vir- tually a rich man among the people who had nothing but worthless scrip for money. This man prior to 1820, had built several good houses on Potato Hill. The old stone house on the corner of Main and Leicester Streets, known for many years as the Washington South corner, was one of these; thence Southward, he owned nearly all the lots out to the Common. These facts are mentioned to remove the impression formed concerning all the Hessian prisoners.

The Nulton Family

This family name appeared in the Valley early in the 19th Century. The writer has always known two distinct families of this name in Winchester, who are unable to show any family connection.

Abraham Nulton was largely engaged in the stove and tinware business for many years-lo- cated on Main Street. He owned a large build- ing and lot. His wife was a Miss Carson, one of the Beatty-Carson family already mentioned. Their children were Beatty Nulton, Emily wife of John Dixon; Hattie wife of Geo. Haines; Kate, wife of a Mr. Hubbard, of Baltimore.

Joseph A. Nulton has been mentioned else- where as the clerk of the circuit court. This was Col. Nulton of the 2nd Va. Regiment organ- ized after the Civil War. He had a good record as a soldier in the Stonewall Brigade. Joseph A. succeeded his father and conducted the busi-

in 1881. He died during his second term, and was succeeded by his son J. Howard, for a short time. He married Miss Virginia Clark, dau. of James Clark, a farmer of good reputa- tion who lived West of the Hahn Mill on Abrams Creek. Their children are Louis McCoy Nulton, Lt. Commander, U. S. Navy; at this writing, on the Battleship Ohio, forming part of the Naval Fleet sailing around the world. The writer has before him, in this connection, a long letter written aboard the Ohio, mailed on the coast of Turkey. The features of this letter in- dicate the vast amount of information Naval officers are supposed to have concerning the many countries and seaports of the world. Comman- der Nulton married Miss Evans, dau. of Edward Evans, the well-known tobacconist, of Winches- ter. They have two children, Virginia Adams, and Dorothy Evans.

Bessie C. Nulton, dau. of Joseph A., married John B. Hoffman; no children. J. Howard, her brother, is prominent as an official in the insur- ance business. His sister Miss Nanny, is con- nected with educational work.

The Nulton name had some struggles in the 18th Century, to become simplified. We have seen the name in Penna. records spelled (1) Noltonne; then Nultone; then Knoultone, and Knolton. About 1790, the same family signed writings simply Nulton. It has been thought "by some" the name is of French origin, though it is generally conceded that John Nulton, the father of Abraham, came from Hesse-Cassel, Ger- many, just prior to 1800.

The other Nulton family found in Winches- ter, was John H. Nulton, Superintendent of Streets, Water, etc. He was a familiar figure to the town for forty years, holding this and other responsible offices. He was competent, faithful and just. Mr. Nulton believed the two families were related, but could not trace the line. Two of his grand-daughters live in Win- chester, and his grandson is in the Navy.

The Jones Family

From the writer's earliest recollection, a fam- ily of this name lived on the Opecquon in the Glass neighborhood. The venerable James Jones lived there on a large plantation in a brick house said to have been erected by his father. On this same tract was an old fort in good repair in 1850. Mr. Jones married in 1817 Eleanor Mar- quis. Their sons Edward H., Marquis, William, and Joseph were active business men and have been previously mentioned. A younger brother, James Harvey, moved West when a young man. William and Joseph died many years ago. Both had sons and daughters, who married and reared

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families. William Jones was the father of Laura, Alice and Annie. (Mrs. A. G. Rudolph.) Their three brothers are James, Albert and Luther. Joseph Jones' children are James B., Mrs. J. R. Triplett, and Mrs. Massie. Mr. E. H. Jones died recently, leaving a large estate. His brother Marquis lives at the old homestead, the last survivor of the five brothers. William, Joseph and Marquis rendered service to the Confed- erate Army. Their grandfather was James Jones, one of the pioneers in the Valley.

In the section East of Newtown, near the Clarke line, there were several families well known to the writer. Of this number were three men, James F. Leach, Geo. L. Stephens, and Benjamin Hicks. They were sterling men; al- ways active in every political battle; fought under the old election laws. Magnus Leach son of James, lives in Warren County; one of his sis- ters married Park Strode, both have promising sons and daughters. The old men died long since. Mr. Hicks has one son Gilbert. He and his sister live at the old home near Nineveh.

In that section are found the Cornwell and Gardner families, descendants of pioneer fam- ilies.

The Orndorff family has been quite numerous in that section; they are unable to trace their lines to the Orndorffs in the Northwest part of the County, where Isaac, William, Benjamin, Sol- omon and several others were heads of large families. They can trace their lines back to the pioneers. The writer has known many of the name. Some are found in Shenandoah, Hardy and Hampshire Counties.

Many persons in Frederick for years have known Joseph B. Orndorff, now an old man, who was one of the constables prior to the Civil War. In more recent years, he was one of the Justices in the Western section. He married a daughter of Abraham Keller, whose father was one of the Revolutionary War soldiers. At one time this family owned large tracts of land along upper Cedar Creek. Mrs. Orndorff is the mother of a large family of sons and daughters, viz : Lee, Morgan, Marion, Archie, Ellen and two sisters, one of whom married Asa Rosenberger. These children are prospering in business. We find in that section several other families who belong to the pioneers. Of these we may name briefly, the Himelrights. The well-known far- mers John Y., and Joseph maintain the good name of their ancestors.

The Coopers are of the old stock. The writer knew Samuel and Watson C. when they were prosperous men. Both left small families. Their brother Jackson once owned a farm near Hill- man's Tollgate; he sold his property and went to the wild country of the Canaan, West Vir-

ginia, and accumulated wealth. He has several sons and daughters.

The Huffs of that section, John and Joseph, are sons of an enterprising father, who spent money in prospecting for silver in that section many years ago.

The Windles, found along Cedar Creek, have been in that section since its first settlement. The Windles of Winchester, Adam and Theo., belong to the same family.

The Cooper family just mentioned, had no connection with another family of this name. Abraham Keller, had two sons-in-law, one was Ignatius Cooper, father of a large family; three of his sons being Newton A., Cornelius N., and Marshall, well-known to the present generation. They have several sisters. Their uncle was the father of Marion, Salem and Hiram Cooper. In the North Mountain section may be found several families who are descendants of the old men the writer knew when a boy. They were Isaac, Solomon and Jacob Brill. All three were 1812 soldiers. Their father, Hezekiah was a soldier in Col. Fry's Regiment of Minute Men. The Frys living in that same section, are de- scendants of Col. Fry.

Benjamin Williams lived in that section during the early part of the 19th Century, and together with his two sons, Philip B. and James W. Wil- liams, operated one of the old-time fulling mills in the vicinity of Mountain Falls, now the prop- erty of S. B. Sale. After the Civil War, they built a large woolen mill on Abrams Creek West of the Valley Pike. His grandsons Hunter and James Williams, have been mentioned as owners of the large woolen mills South of Winches- ter. Their father Philip B. Williams, is men- tioned in the list of Delegates in the Virginia Legislature. There is no known connection be- tween this and the families of same name pre- viously mentioned.

The Russell family, once so prominently known in the northwest section, have disap- peared. We have mentioned James A. Russell and family elsewhere. His cousin William Rus- sell lived in that section. They married sisters, the Misses Baker, of Hardy County. William was the father of Mrs. James Cover, Mrs. Zepp and one son John. Mr. James A. Russell lived to be an old man. His father was one of the Minute Men, as shown elsewhere. Mr. Rus- sell's gallant son, Stanley, was killed during the early part of the Civil War,-a brave Confed- erate, well-known to the writer. His sister Mrs. Annie Hack and her brothers, have been pre- viously mentioned.

The author's scheme included among other subjects, one to embody a roster of Confederate Soldiers, who had enlisted as Frederick County

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men; but abandons this now for two reasons: one is that he has reached the limit of his space; the other, that ample provision has been made by the State of Virginia to maintain a record of all Virginia soldiers. This is being done by recording in each Clerk's Office rosters of all companies mus- tered into service for their respective counties. This will be of inestimable value for the future generations. We have had occasion to mention incidentally many of the gallant fellows who gave up all to answer the call of Virginia in her great effort to check invasion of her soil and defend her sacred rights.

Sketch of the Williams Family in Shenandoah Valley-Now Shenandoah

The second Clerk of the County Court of Shen- andoah County was John Williams, Jr., serving as such from 1784 to 1789. (The first clerk was Marshall, 1772-1784.)

John was the son of William Williams and Lucy Clayton. He was a Revolutionary sol- dier; enlisted August, 1777, and served until Feby., 1781. He attained the rank of Major in the State service March 3, 1785. In 1770 he mar- ried Eleanor Hite, third daughter of Isaac Hite, of Long Meadows, Frederick County. The au- thor will add at this point that some question has arisen as to John Williams, Jr., (the second county clerk) being the son of William Williams. That John Williams the oldest son of William, was never clerk ;- that John, Jr., was not re- lated to the family. Be this as it may, the gen- ealogy of this family has been carefully studied; and the author gives the benefit of a doubt to the statement made that he was the son of Wil- liam and the second clerk of Shenandoah County.

This Major John Williams had three children to survive him :

I. Isaac Hite Williams.

2. John C. Williams.

3. Eleanor Eltinge Williams.

Isaac Hite Williams was a brilliant lawyer ; lived in Fredk. County, Va .; married Lucy Cole- man Slaughter. Seven children by this mar- riage :

I. Ophelia Ann, mar. Rev. Geo. Archibald Smith.

2. Margaret F., mar. John Mercer Patton.

3. Mary Eleanor, mar. Dr. Walker Maury Hite.

4. Isaac Hite Williams; never married.

5. Eliza, unmarried.

6. Lucy Ann, unmarried.

7. John James, married Francis T. Thomp- son.

John C. Williams, second son of Major John, married Mary Tutt. Their children :

I. Mary Stevens Williams, mar. Rev. Henry Porter.

2. John W. Williams, mar. Francis Mason.

Eleanor Eltinge, third child of Major John Wil- liams, mar. Capt. Reuben Long of Culpeper Coun- ty, Va., who has credit for distinguished services in the Revolutionary War. Their children were:

I. Reuben Long, mar. Elizabeth R. Miller.

2. Mary Evans Long, mar. Chas. U. Lovell.

3. Lucy Green Long, mar. Col. Robt. Turner. Children of Reuben Long and Elizabeth R. Miller :

1. J. Miller Long, mar. (1) Anna Mary Mil- ler, dau. of John M. and E. R. Miller, 1878. His second wife was Jane Vivian Lewis.

Children of Chas. U. Lovell and Mary E. Long, 7 in number :

I. Janet U., mar. Dr. I. N. Buck.

2. Wm. Yates Lovell, mar. Miss Allen.

3. Eleanor U., mar. Saml. C. Richardson.

4. Lucy Ann, mar. Thos. C. Randolph.

5. Mary Julia, mar. Thos. W. Kiger.

6. John T. Lovell, mar. Lucy Ann Williams, 1859; was a Confederate soldier; practiced law in the West and also at Front Royal; Judge of Old County Court of Warren County for four terms; member of House of Delegates; State Senator, 1882; Editor of Warren Sentinel. The writer was familiar with his useful and active life.

7. Sarah E., mar. Col. Mandly Taylor.

The children of Col. Robt. Turner and Lucy G. Long:

I. Robert H. Turner, mar. Anna M. Davi- son; practiced law in Front Royal; member of State Convention that passed Ordinance of Secession. A private in Warren Rifles when the Civil War began; then Lieut .; then Major of Staff of Genl. Corse; surrendered at Appomat- tox. 1869 was appointed Judge of the old 12th Circuit, filling this office for nearly 25 years. His wife was grand-daughter of Major Isaac Hite, of Belle Grove.

2. James H. Turner; married twice. . First wife Annette Tyler; second, Mary Jackson; married 1867. A physician in Front Royal for years.

3. Smith S. Turner, mar. Louisa Bird, dau. of Judge Mark Bird, of Woodstock; practiced law in Front Royal; member of Congress from his Dist .; suffered serious injuries in the Con- federate service, from which he never entirely recovered. His wife was a grand-daughter of Major Hite, of Belle Grove.

John W. Williams, only son of Capt. "Jack" Williams, and Mary Tutt wife of John W., left his native county, Rappahannock, in 1840 for Buchannan, Va., and established a large busi- ness. He had two children :

I. James W. Williams, mar. Mary Easley ; served in Army of Northern Virginia; lived at Pearisburg, Va .; member of the House of Dele-

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gates from his and Pulaski Counties. His son John W. Williams was clerk in 1906.

2. Mary Ellen, married (Ist) Capt. Wm. H. Payne, 1863. Second husband, Capt. David A. French, 1869.

Philip Williams, the third clerk of Shenan- doah County, was the third son of William Wil- liams and Lucy Clayton. He was born near Culpeper C. H., Va., in 1771; came to the Valley when 18 years of age, and settled in Woodstock. Shenandoah at that time embraced the greater portion of Page and Warren County territory. He soon won the esteem and confi- dence of his new friends. In 1789, Aug. 27, he was chosen Clerk of the County Court, which office he held continuously until June, 1845, when he declined re-election Mr. Williams enjoyed an enviable reputation in the 54 years of his ser- vice, for his efficiency as clerk of the court. In all the changes of legislation. he was ever ready to meet any requirement of service in con- nection with his responsible and onerous office. His long experience made him familiar with all statute laws-all technicalities of the court, and adroitness of the most distinguished lawyers. He grew so closely interwoven with law practice, that he was regarded by the Bench and Bar alike, as an authority in the rules of practice; and his profound knowledge of human nature and the people of his large county was so great, that his advice was often sought by contending lit- igants. His biographer, in the work of Mr. Johnston styled "Memorials of Virginia Clerks," says: "That he was an adherent of the Epis- copal Church, as his family had been in every generation," and that he was an official mem- ber of the congregation when Rev. Peter Muh- lenberg preached his celebrated patriotic sermon- an event that he remembered so well, that his de- scription of the scene in the old church, stirred quicker emotions than any other incident he could recall. His political life was as true and firm as any other of his convictions an any sub- ject. He was a Democrat of the old school, and was a leader in all campaign efforts. Through his zeal and administration, Shenan- doah was known far and near as the "Tenth Legion of Democracy." When in the 75th year of his age, he laid down the burden, his well- spent life entitled him to the epitaph his many friends inscribed on the slab that marks his grave, to be found in the old Episcopal grave- vard at Woodstock. Here it is-well worth the study of the passer-by: "He was Clerk of the County of Shenandoah for fifty-four years, and lived and died without an enemy."

Mr. Williams married Sarah Croudson, in 1791. She was the only daughter of John Croud-

son and Elizabeth Warrington, County Lancas- ter, England. They had ten children :

I. Lucy Clayton, married (1) John W. Bay- liss, 1811. After his death, she married Capt. Ambrose Powell Hill, Mch. 30, 1830. He had the honor of commanding the Culpeper Minute Men in 1812. No children by either marriage.

2. Elizabeth, born 1795; mar. Col. Rob. Tur- ner, 1813. She died 1820, childless.

3. Ann Jane Williams, born 1797, mar. Philip De Catesby Jones, 1817.

4. John Croudson Williams.

5. Philip Williams, married (1) Ann Maury Hite, 1826. (2) Mary Louise Lillie Dunbar, 1834. 6. James Clayton Williams, mar. Amandy C. Ott, 1828.

7. Mary Susan, mar. Dr. Wm. W. Magruder, 1825.

8. Samuel Croudson Williams, mar. Sarah C. Ott, 1833.

9. Sarah Frances, mar. Travis J. Twyman, Sept. 14, 1830. He was son of Col. Wm. Twyman of the Revolution, and his wife was Bettie Gar- nett.

10. Eleanor Francis, mar. Rev. Andrew Hun- ter Holmes Boyd. (See sketch of Boyd family.)

The children of Philip C. Jones and Ann J. Williams :

1. John Wm. Jones, mar. Elizabeth W. Chip- ley. Mr. Jones is a Baptist minister, distin- guished for his active services during the Civil War, and his prominence in all Confederate Re- unions since; is author of "Christ in the Camp."

2. Lewin T. Jones, mar. Lydia C. Russell, of Loudoun County.

3. Elizabeth Sarah Jones, mar. Gerard M. Ef- finger, 1861. Son of John F. and Mary Hite, dau. of John Hite, Jr., of Rockingham Co.

Philip Williams, son of Philip and Sarah Croudson, was a lawyer of such distinction in the Shenandoah Valley as entitles him to more than the brief notice accorded many others in this work. He was a student of law in the office of his uncle, Wm. Clayton Williams, of Rich- mond, Va. His first experience as an attorney was in Woodstock, Va., where he was admitted to the Bar about 1824. His reputation as an attorney in his native county, can be measured somewhat by an examination of the old dockets of the courts in the first few years of his prac- tice. Hundreds of suits were instituted and skillfully handled by him. He was soon made Commonwealth's Attorney for the county, and also elected to the Virginia Legislature. Later on, he changed his residence to Winchester; but his extensive practice in Shenandoah and other Counties, was successfully handled. Perhaps no other lawyer in the Virginia Valley was so well known. He was associated with Mr. David W.

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Barton, also one of the great legal lights in his day; and together they were interested in hun- dreds of suits in all of the adjoining courts. Mr. Williams, though not of the oratorical style, was regarded as a forceful speaker. His adroit- ness as a cross-examiner, gave him great power in conducting his cases. He was an earnest advocate before a jury-winning their closest attention, and generally their verdict. His name and fame usually attracted crowds to the court room in ye olden times. This always enthused him. His wiry frame often quivered with de- light as he glanced over the listening multitude. Then it was that his listening brethren of the bar, felt his weight with the masses. He was a born lawyer. Mr. Williams was well known for his devotion to the Southern cause. Though never in the service as a soldier, his aid went out fully to the cause He suffered unjust im- prisonment in a loathsome place in Wheeling, W. Va .; his fellow prisoners from Winchester being Rev. Dr. Boyd, Robert Y. Conrad and others. The Federals held them as hostages for some Union men who had been arrested by the Confederates. The author was always familiar with the life of Mr. Williams in the many years he knew him previous to the war. No inci- dent ever impressed him as much as what he witnessed during the period of Reconstruction. Mr. Williams was employed by some Virginians who were members of the author's old Cavalry Regiment, that made a celebrated scout along the B. & O. Railroad, capturing prisoners and securing horses and cattle, bringing them all safely to the Army headquarters. A number of suits for damages were brought against the old soldiers who went back to their homes after the war, some of whom were arrested. The case came up for hearing in the U. S. District Court at Kingwood, West Virginia. Many of the old Regiment soldiers living in the Valley, were summoned to assist their friends. The author accompanied Mr. Williams. His nervous- ness attracted attention; and when asked the cause, replied that this was to be the supreme effort of his life; that he had learned that - Stanton, brother of Edward M. Stanton, Lincoln's Secretary of War, who was a terror to all who knew his bitterness, was to prosecute these cases; and he knew there would be an effort made to crush every Southern man involved ;- that this brother was equal to the Secretary for his bit- terness of feeling.

The court-room was a scene never to be for- gotten. The few old soldiers huddled in a cor- ner of the room, under guard-the hard counte- nances of the West Virginia prosecutors-the towering form of that Stanton, standing near the lithe figure of Mr. Williams, cast a gloom over

the litigants and witnesses from the Valley. Stanton seemed to be all the court; and insisted on judgments and summary punishment, without the usual formalities of trial by jury. At the critical moment, Mr. Williams announced that inasmuch as the court had admitted him to prac- tice before the high tribunal, he felt himself the equal of Mr. Stanton before this court; and raised the question of jurisdiction. The offences charged, having been committed before the new State was formed, why should these charges be tried in the United States Court? Arguments on points of law continued for two days. Mr. Williams met the stalwart Stanton at every point, and overwhelmed him with confusion, until he yielded to Mr. Williams' motion, that the Court take time to consider the grave question, and allow all contestants leave to depart upon their own recognizances. The learned Judge an- nounced that the further hearing of these cases would be postponed until after the Christmas season, then two days off. The cases never came to a conclusion.

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Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 90

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920 Publication date: 1909 Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.] Number of Pages: 607

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.]
Number of Pages: 607