USA > Virginia > Virginia and Virginians; eminent Virginians, executives of the colony of Virginia, Vol. II > Part 29
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Previous to the late war, Mr. Butt was a captain in the State militia; and being subject to military duty was, in 1863, by order of the War Department, Confederate States government, detailed to manufacture hats for the army, at Rice Spring, Virginia, and so continued until the close of the war. He had three brothers in the Confederate army, John W .. Henry C. and Joseph M .; the first two with Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, the last-named serving in the Virginia Reserves. John W. was acci- dentally killed in 1864, in Russell county, Virginia, by being thrown from his horse. In 1867 or '68 Mr. Butt became a member of Abing- don Lodge, No. 48, A. F. & A. M .; two brothers are also Master Masons.
Mr. Butt is a son of Rignal Butt. late of Berkeley county, Virginia. whose father was Rignal Butt, late of that county, near Harpers Ferry, and came of German ancestry. His mother was Sarah, daughter of Jacob Bondurant, late of Franklin county, Virginia, and of French descent, thought to have been Huguenots.
Mrs. Mary E. G. Butt is the daughter of Lodwick Price, late of Abingdon, whose father was Edmond Price, late of Lynchburg, Vir- ginia. Her mother was Jane C. W., daughter of Patrick and Catharine Lynch, who were among the earliest settlers of Abingdon; they were of French extraction.
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CAPT. JOHN BYARS,
Born on his father's estate, Brook Hall Farm, Washington county, August 11, 1811, is a son of Col. William Byars, formerly of Louisa county, Virginia, who married in Washington county, and settled here. Colonel Byars' father was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The mother of John Byars was Elizabeth, daughter of William Beatty, a pioneer of Washington county.
His wife, whom he married near Glade Springs, October 22, 1836, was Jane B. Ryburn, born near Glade Springs Depot, June 6, 1819. They have one daughter, Elizabeth M., now Mrs. Hall, residing near them, and have buried one daughter, Sarah A. A., died in 1856. The father of Mrs. Byars was Beatty Byburn, whose father, Matthew Ryburn, came from Scotland to Washington county in early days of the county. Her mother was also a Ryburn. Jane, daughter of William Ryburn, who settled on the middle fork of the Holston before the Indians had left the county.
Capt. John Byars has resided on Brook Hall Farm all his life, and both he and his estimable wife have seen the county pass from the hands of the Indian to its present state of development and comfort, having borne their share of those pioneer hardships incident to such a change. During the years of the war he was too old for military duty, but had a younger brother, James M., who served from the beginning to the close of that struggle.
REV. W. C. CARDEN,
Pastor in charge of the M. E. Church (South) at Abingdon, Washing- ton county, was born at Cleveland, Tennessee. He is a son of Leonard Carden, of Tennessee, whose father, Robert Carden, was a Virginian, and settled in Tennessee. His mother is of the old and honored Hale family of Old Virginia, T. C., daughter of Lewis Hale of Grayson county.
In the Sequatchie Valley, March5, 1875, Rev. W. C. Carden was united in marriage with Martha Stewart, who was born in the Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee. Their children are: Robert A., Leonard A., Frank and Mary. Mrs. Carden is the daughter of James Stewart, granddangh- ter of George Stewart, both of the Sequatchie valley, the founder of the family coming there from Ireland. Her mother was Mary Kirklin, and her mother's mother was the first white child born in the Sequatchie valley.
At the time of the late war, Mr. Carden was a cadet in the Military Institute at Marietta, Georgia, commanded by Major Capers. He was called out to the defense of Atlanta, in 1864, and kept in front of Sher- man's army in its advance to the Sea through Georgia. At Savannah,
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the troops with which he was fighting crossed the river, and moved to Augusta, Georgia. He was paroled after General Johnston's surrender.
He has served as grand chaplain of the Knights of Honor of Tennessee, and passed the Chapter and Council to the 11th degree in Masonry.
JOHN R. CARDWELL.
The subject of this sketch, born at Rutledge, Tennessee, on August 16, 1821, and raised in Knox county, Tennessee, was many years an honored resident of Abingdon, Washington county, Virginia, and died there. He was educated at Emory and Heury College, was married at Abingdon, March 13, 1849, and entered into business there as merchant tailor, which he followed until his death. Because of ill-health he was unfit for field service during the late war, but was enrolled for service in the Reserves. He was made prisoner during the Stoneman raid, but released.
Daniel Cardwell, of Rutledge, Tennessee, the father of John R., was a son of Perren Henry Cardwell, and came from England. He lived to the age of 100 years. Among his illustrious connections in America was Patrick Henry, who was his cousin. His wife, mother of John R., was a Miss Abbot, of Massachusetts. JJohn R. Cardwell wedded Mary Isa- bella Lewark, who was born in Abingdon, December 16, 1826, where, except for about two years, she has always resided. Their children were: Martha L., David Wingfield, Joseph Wayland, John H., William King (deceased), Mary Isabella, Laura Virginia (deceased), and Genio.
Mrs. Cardwell had one brother in the Confederate service through the late war. She is a daughter of Joseph Lewark, who was born in Greens- boro, North Carolina, served in the war of 1812, removed to Wash- ington county. His father was John Lewark, who removed to Indiana about 1841. The mother of Mrs. Cardwell was Jemima, daughter of Honor Hutton, of Greensboro, North Carolina.
JOHN CARMACK.
The founder of the Carmack family in Southwestern Virginia was John Carmack, who, in colonial days entered between two and three thousand acres of land in Washington county. Virginia, and Hawkins county, Tennessee, nearly all of which land remains still in the posses- sion of his descendants. His son John was a soldier of the Revolution- ary war, and was wounded at Bunker Hill. Pleasant Carmack, son of the soldier John, learned the trade of cabinet maker, then settled to farming in Washington county. He married Hannah, daughter of Captain William Gray, of Washingtoncounty. She wasborn in 1804. and died in 1866, and for twenty years preceding her death was
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afflicted with blindness. Her father was born on the ocean, while his pa- rents were voyaging to their new home in Virginia. He grew to man- hood in Washington county, where he became an extensive stockman.
John, son of Pleasant Carmack and his wife, Hannah, was born on his father's estate, on the State line between Washington county, Vir- ginia, and Sullivan county, Tennessee, on June 13, 1836. He married near Abingdon, May 4, 1861, Mary Hagy, born in Washington coul- ty. Their children were born in the order named: Pleasant William, Martin Hagy, John Thomas, Mary Lauretta, Sally Eliza, Samuel Van- dellen, Ada Texanna, Virginia Tennessee, Alexander Watson. The eld- est son now lives in Texas.
Mrs. Carmack is a daughter of Martin Hagy, a farmer living near Abingdon, whose father, Jacob Hagy, came to Washington county from Pittsylvania county. Her mother is Sally, daughter of James Anderson, who came to Washington county from Ireland.
Mr. Carmack was exempt from service in the late war, on account of physical disability. His farm was subjected to raids by the contend- ing armies from both sides. His brother William P. was in service about a year, and a number of their relatives were in the Southern army, among them a cousin, James Carmack, who was captured, and died while a prisoner of war in Kentucky.
Mr. Carmack is a farmer and stockman, and is also United States mail sub-contractor for his district.
JAMES CHIDDIX,
One of the most successful farmers and stockraisers in Southwestern Virginia, comes of a family where the men have been farmers for several generations. His grandfather was Eli Chiddix, who came from England to Virginia, and his father was William Chiddix, of Saltville, who mar- ried Naney, daughter of James Lowder of Tazewell county, Virginia, also a farmer, and one of the earliest settled in the county, of Irish descent. James, subject of this sketch, was born in Tazewell county, June 23, 1837. During the late war he served one year in the 45th Virginia regiment, Company G. then util close of war in the 23d bat- talion, a part of the Stonewall Brigade. He was a prisoner about one-half hour, at Fishers Hill. His brother Leander served in a Texas regiment, C. S. A. Another brother, Eli, was a member of the 29th Virginia regiment, Pickett's division, and was killed in action May 14, 1864.
Near Saltville, February 28, 1866, James Chiddix married Sarah .1. Meadows, and their children are: Isabelle, William Huston, Eli S., John W., Susan V., James (deceased ). George W. P., Charles, Pearl
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(deceased). Mrs. Chiddix was born near Saltville, the daughter of William T. Meadows, of Smyth county, who was the son of Jool Meadows, who raised his family near Emory. Her mother was Miss Susan MacCready.
Mr. Chiddix has been a zealous worker and able exhortor in the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school for thirty years, his successful work abundantly shown by its fruits, and by the many let- ters of approval and encouragement he has received, as well as by the resolutions and votes of thanks passed by churches, Sunday-schools and other religious societies he has assisted. His father was a Sunday- school superintendent for over thirty-five years, and his father-in-law filled the same position for a like number of years.
JAMES H. CLARK
Was born on the Clark homestead, near Meadow View, where he still resides, on December 13, 1839. He is a son of John S. Clark, who is a son of Robert Clark, who was born in Scotland, in 1757, and came to Washington county in 1817, locating a farm in the woods, which was cleared under his supervision, and became the fruitful farm James H. now cultivates.
Near Emory and Henry College, February 17, 1875, James H. Clark married Sarah E. Horn. Their children are five sons: John, Henry Marvin, David B., James B. and Chester L., and they have buried one daughter, the youngest child, Helah F. Mrs. Clark was born near Emory and Henry College, the daughter of John Horn, now of Glade Spring, whose father, Henry Horn, came to this county from Wythe county. Her mother is Mary, daughter of Andrew Fullen, of this county, near Saltville.
James H. Clark was three years a soldier, from March, 1862, to the close of the war, Company D, 1st Virginia Cavalry. With this gallant regiment he faced the enemy in all its many battles during his time of service, was never wounded nor captured, and with it constantly except for a short furlough in 1863.
WILLIAM D. CLARK.
Peter Clark, founder of this family in Virginia, came from Scotland and settled in Washington county, near Glade Spring, at an early day. Robert Clark, son of Poter, married Catharine, the daughter of William Dixon, who came from Pennsylvania to Washington county. William D., son of Robert and Catharine Clark, was born on the family estate. near Glade Spring, July 9, 1830. This estate, descended to him, he is still living on.
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He married near Glade Spring, January 19, 1850, Caroline, daughter of Granville Williams, and the issue of the marriage is nine children : . Sallie Kate, Cora B., Robert D., Nannie May, Joseph White, Viola J., William Winzell, Jesse Lawrence, Conley. Frank. Mrs. Clark was born in Smyth county, Virginia, where her father's and mother's families were pioneer settlers. Granville Williams, her father, is a son of Levi Williams, and her mother is Sallie, daughter of John James, Esq.
Mr. Clark was in service through the late war, the first year in Com- pany D, 37th Virginia Infantry, the remaining time in the famous 1st Virginia Cavalry, with which he took part in almost every battle fought by the renowned Army of Northern Virginia. Of his near and distant relatives, hardly one able to bear arms was not in the same service.
CHRISTIAN M. COLLEY.
The farm on which Mr. Colley resides, and which he cultivates, three and one-half miles east of Abingdon, was first settled by his maternal grandfather, Jacob M. Morell, who came here from Shenandoah coun- ty, Virginia, more than one hundred years ago. His daughter Mary married Shadrach Colley, who was a son of Thomas Colley, the latter coming to this country from France, and fighting for the Independence of America under Washington. The subject of this sketch is the son of Shadrach and Mary (Morell) Colley, and was born November 12, 1813, on the farm where he still resides.
Near Abingdon, at the residence of the bride's father he married, April 7, 1835, Mary, daughter of William McDaniel, born in 1811 on the place where they were married. Her father came to the county from Maryland, where he was born. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Colley : Letitia, Thomas W., Wm. Lewis, Mary Jane, Eliza- beth Catharine, Lierann, Sarah Susan. The first and last named of these are now deceased. Thomas and Wm. Lewis were soldiers of Company D, Ist Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A. Thomas was disabled by the loss of a foot, in 1863; Lewis served till the close of the war. The father served nine months with Gen. Floyd as wagon-master in North- west Virginia, but his age incapacitated him for field service.
THOMAS W. COLLEY.
The founder of this family in Virginia came to the colony from Wales, and was the father of Thomas Colley, who was born in Pittsylvania county, removed to Russell county, and was the father of Shadrach Colley, whoseson, Christian M. Colley, married Mary, daughter of William MeDaniel, who came to Washington county from Maryland. Thomas W., subject of this sketch, son of Christian M. and Mary Colley, was born
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near Abingdon, on November 30, 1837. On Christmas Day, 1872, he married Ann Eliza Ryan, who was born near Abingdon, June 15, 1851. Their children were born in the order named: James Lewis (deceased ), Daniel T., Fitzhugh Lee, Frank T., Mary L., Ella Ryan (deceased ), Bar- bara C., Sallie H. (deceased), John M. Mrs. Colley is a daughter of James Ryan, of Washington county, son of James Ryan, who came from Ireland. Her mother was Barbara, daughter of John Morell, of Wash- ington county. The Morells were of French extraction, and came to this country previous to 1760.
Mr. Colley entered service in the late war in April, 1861, in the Wash- ington Mounted Rifles. Hewas wounded August 12, 1862, in the battle of Waterloo Bridge; again wounded at Kellys Ford, March 17, 1863. where he was shot through the body, and left on the field for dead: a third time wounded, and permanently disabled, May 28, 1864, near Cold Harbor, losing left foot. He cultivates a farm near Abingdon, and has held public office, deputy sheriff from 1871 to 1875; superintendent of the poor, 1879 to 1887.
JOHN D. COSBY.
The subject of this sketch was born in Buckingham county, Virginia. on the 8th of November, 1840. He is a son of Rev. Lewis F. Cosby. whose family record is in the sketch following this one. In April, 1861. he joined. Company K, 37th Virginia Infantry, C. S. A., and was one of the first men from Washington county to mount the train that was to carry the volunteers to the front. In August, 1861, he was disabled by typhoid fever, at Garretts Ford, on Cheat river, Virginia, at the time General Garnett was killed. Later he served tvo years in the 1st Vir- ginia Cavalry, and was in active service through the war, except when disabled by sickness. On April 9, 1865, his command was outside of the lines, and not included in Lee's surrender, the men returning to their homes.
In 1871 John D. Cosby was elected sheriff of Washington county for three years, and subsequently was twice re-elected, serving twelve years as sheriff after having served three years as deputy sheriff. At " Pana- cella," on the 15th of December, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Sne M. Litchfield, by Rev. W. E. Cunningham. She was born on the 20th of July, 1843, at Abingdon, and is the daughter of George V. Litchfield, who died in Abingdon on February 5, 1874. Her mother was Rachel D., daughter of John Mitchell, Esq., of Saltville and Abing- don, Virginia. One child, Mary Connally Cosby, blesses this union.
" Panacella," the beautiful home of Mr. Cosby, overlooking the town of Abingdon, was formerly the country seat of old Judge Johnston.
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the father of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Beverly R. Johnston, and Gen. Peter C. Johnston. Near the house is the old family cemetery, where now repose the bodies of Judge Johnston and his estimable wife, Bev- erly R. Johnston and Gen. Peter C. Johnston, the graves tenderly cared for by their distinguished son and brother, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.
REV. LEWIS F. COSBY : D. D.
Was born in Staunton, Virginia, on the 14th day of January, 1807, and died in Abingdon, Virginia, on the 6th day of July, 1883. Dr. Cosby was a prominent minister in the Methodist Protestant church, and was a man of deep and fervent piety, beloved by all. His parents were Dabney and Frances D. Cosby, now deceased, whose remains rest in the cemetery at Raleigh, North Carolina. He was married twice, first to Miss Jane E. Bekem, of Abingdon, a lady of rare gifts and ac- complishments. . By this marriage seven children were born, viz. : Jane Frances, Virginia Eleanor, Charles Vincent, John Dabney, Lew- is Thomson, Sarah Elizabeth, William H. Cosby. Mrs. Cosby depart- ed this life June 13, 1853. All of said children have married: Jane (now deceased), married Edward Zolliekoffer: Virginia (now deceased) married Dr. J. W. Miller; Charles (now deceased) married Mary E. Hamilton ; John, Miss Sue M. Litchfield : Lewis T., Miss Kate S. Mitch- ell; Sally E., D. A. C. Webster; W. H., Miss Kate Hayden. Mrs. Zol- lickoffer left surviving her five children: Virginia, two; Charles, three. Dr. Cosby married secondly Mrs. Elizabeth Montgomery, of Greene county, Tennessee (a very excellent lady, beloved by all who know her), who survives him.
Charles V. Cosby at the time of his death was a prominent merchant of Shreveport, Louisiana. John D. Cosby has been connected with pub- lic affairs in Washington county, having been sheriff of the same. Lewis T. Cosby was clerk of the circuit court of said county for nearly seventeen years, and is now a member of the Bar thereof. All of the male members of the family (except William) participated actively in the war between the States. Charles V. at the close of the war was a staff officer in the Trans-Mississippi Department, with rank of major; John D. and Lewis T. were in the cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia.
Among the maternal ancestors of these sons of Rev. Dr. Cosby were: Lientenant John Carson, their mother's unele, who was a sokhier in the Revolutionary war; and Charles S., his brother, who served in the war of 1812. Charles S. Bekem, a brother of Mrs. JJane E. Cosby, was a distinguished member of the Bar of Southwest Virginia, and was a number of times elected to the Legislature, being voted for by both
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parties. He departed this life on the 19th of August, 1875, aged seven- ty-three years. The Cosbys, on the side of their father, are of Scotch descent, and on their mother's side Irish.
ROBERT CRAIG,
Farmer and grape-enlturist of Washington county, was born near Tazewell C. H., Virginia, March 22, 1834. In 1861 he entered service, Company F, 54th Virginia Regiment, C. S. A., and in 1863 was dis- charged for disability. He had two brothers in service, James H., twice wounded, served till Lee's surrender; and Dr. Thomas C., captured, held a time at Fort Delaware, again in service after exchange until the sur- render, his regiment in the "Stonewall Brigade."
Robert Craig is a son of Dr. Robert M. Craig, of Pulaski county, Tennessee, a self-made man, who rose to eminence, representing his county in the State legislature. His father was David Craig of Mont- gomery county, Virginia, whose father, Benjamin Craig, died on board ship while coming to America from Scotland. The mother of Benjamin Craig was a Gillespie, of Scotland. The mother of kobert Craig was Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Law, of Pulaskicounty, Vir- ginia. Her mother was the danghter of Michael Cloyd and Elizabeth Nealy, his wife, the latter a Campbell, her mother killed by Indians, near Amsterdam, Virginia.
Robert Craig's first wife was Virginia Lee, born in Bedford county, Virginia, April 2, 1853. They were married January 6, 1870, and she died March 31, 1874, leaving two children, Lucy Lee and Robert V. He married secondly, December 13, 1874, Sarah C. Walters, born in 1847, died August 18, 1887. Their children were Robert Thomas, Elizabeth, Lillie, Sarah; Butler T., deceased; Chrysalis, deceased; David T. deceased.
Mr. Craig married again, his wife Mary L., the daughter of Thomas E. Noel of Bedford county, Virginia, son of Cornelius Noel, of that county. Her mother is Ann S., daughter of William Saunders, who was a quar- termaster, war of 1812, and granddaugher of John Saunders, of New Kent, Virginia, a Revolutionary soldier.
DR. ROBERT C. CRAIG.
The subject of this sketch was born near Abingdon, Washington county, January 21, 1819. and his home has always been in thiscounty. where he has been in practice as physician and surgeon, and has also given much time to the cultivation of his estate. He was magistrate of the county under the old constitution for eight years, several years post-master, first at Craig's Mills, then at Maple Grove. By reason of
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civil appointments he was exempt from military duty during the late war. He isan A. F. and A. M. of Abingdon Lodge, No. 48, and has filled worthily every office in the lodge except Master. Near Abingdon, April 14, 1841, Dr. Craig married Margaret J. Parrott, born July 23, 1823. Their children were born in the order named: Amanda P., Margaret P. (now deceased), Virginia K. (now deceased), James Henry, Mary Eliza, Sarah Harriet, Robert Claude.
Dr. Craig is a son of James Chambers Craig, who was long cashier of banks at Nashville and Columbia, and who came from Baltimore, Mary- land, where his father, James Craig, settled on coming from Ireland. The mother of Dr. Craig was born in Washington county, near Abingdon, Amanda P., daughter of Captain Robert Craig, formerly of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and an officer of the Revolutionary war, whose wife was Jane Denny.
Dr. Craig's wife is a daughter of Henry Parrott, who came to Wash- ington county from Botetourt county, Virginia, having learned the saddler's trade at Fincastle. Her mother was Margaret, daughter of James Piper, an early settler in Washington county, whose grafting originated the well-known " Piper Pear."
WARREN CRAWFORD,
Farmer of Washington county, was born in this county, on Smith creek, June 29, 1841. From June, 1863 till December, 1864, he was in service in Company I, 22d Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A. He had one brother-in-law died in service, John A. Vance, in October, 1861. An- other brother-in-law, A. J. Cunningham, lost right arm in battle before Richmond.
The father of Warren Crawford was Dr. John Crawford, born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, raised in Washington county, married Matilda Fleenor in 1834. She is a daughter of Solomon Fleenor, a veteran of the war of 1812, whose father, JJasper Fleenor, was a pioneer settler in Washington county.
D. C. CUMMINGS : JR,
Clerk of the county court of Washington county, was born in this county at Abingdon, on June 23, 1861. He is the son of Col. David Campbell Cummings, who was clerk of circuit court at Abingdon, 1866-70, whose father was James Cummings, son of Rev. Charles Cummings, who came from Scotland to Virginia at an early day, and took charge of the Presbyterian church, at Abingdon and other places. The mother of D. C. is Eliza, daughter
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of James L. White of Abingdon, and granddaughter of Col. James White. who came to Washington county about the beginning of the present century, and amassed a fortune in the mercantile business, and as a manufacturer of salt. From April, 1882, to July 1, 1887, D. C. Cum- mings, jr. was deputy county clerk for Washington county. Since the last-named date he has been filling his present office, to which he was elected by the largest majority ever given to a candidate in Washington county.
ARCHIMEDES DAVIS
Was born in Washington county, Virginia, in 1811, and died on his estate near Abingdon, on October 22, 1865. He was a son of James Davis, who was born on Walker Mount, this county, and Nancy, daughter of Thomas and Lydia Smith, also of Washington county. In Granger county, Tennessee, February 12, 1840, Archimedes Davis married Mary Van Hook Fulkerson, who was born near Abingdon, September 24. 1820. The record of their children is: Margaret Nancy, now deceased : Arabella, now deceased; James K., now of Missouri: Abram F., now of Illinois; Archimedes, now of Arkansas; Mary Van Hook, residing in Abingdon; Samuel W., now deceased; Griffith, deceased; Arthur ( .. deceased ; Sarah, living now in Kentucky; Lydia Ann, Salina Fulkerson and Robert Vance. James and AAbram were in service in the late war. Confederate States Army.
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