USA > Virginia > Virginia and Virginians; eminent Virginians, executives of the colony of Virginia, Vol. II > Part 31
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JOHN T. GRAY.
The Gray family were early seated in Virginia, coming from Ireland. James Gray, grandfather of John T., was born in Angusta county, and later removed to Russell county, where his son John was born, the father of John T. John Gray married Polly. daughter of Jacob and Nancy Leere, who were of English descent and came from Baltimore to Russell county. John T. was born in Lee county, Virginia, on Jannary 9, 1838. At Lebanon, Russell county, July 26, 1864, hemarried Sallie L. Fickle, born in that county, and their children are seven : Mary Ellen, Jennie Bell, James Kent, Robert Wm., John T., Sallie L., George H.
Mrs. Gray is a danghter of John B. Fiekle, of Lebanon, Virginia, whose father was Isaac Fickle, of Baltimore, Maryland, the family com- ing from Germany. Her mother is Mary M., daughter of William and Mary Fields, of Scott county, Virginia. The Fields family have long been residents of Virginia, the men of the family fighting in her battles for three generations. The grandfather of Mrs. Fickle's mother was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was wounded at Kings Mountain, North Carolina, recovered from his wound, and died in Scott county at the ripe old age of 105 years. Several of the name served in the war of 1812.
John T. Gray entered the Confederate Army in April. 1861, in Compa- ny (, 37th Virginia Infantry, one of the regiments of the original "Stonewall Brigade." He was severely wounded in second Manassas battle, and was captured near Farmville, April 6, 1865, and held until June 12th following. He had four brothers in active service, two dis- charged in 1862, one two years a prisoner, the fourth also several months a prisoner.
While living in Russell county Mr. Gray was eight years superintend- out of the poor of that county. He is now farming in Washington county, residence near AAbingdon.
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ROBERT EMMETT GRAY.
Robert Emmett, son of John Gray of Washington county, was born six miles south of Abingdon. June 1, 1837. He married, near Abing- don, March 17, 1863, Mary J. McChesney. who was born near Abingdon, May 2, 1841. Their children are seven : William Fred., Grace, Nellie, David S., Kate S., Bessie A. and Robert McChesney.
The Gray family were early seated in Washington county, Capt. William Gray, a pioneer, being the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. John Gray, his father, was a soldier of the war of 1812. and also fought at Saltville, in 1864. John Gray married Mary, daughter of John Craig, of Wythe county, Virginia. Of this union were born six sons who gave their services to Virginia in the war between the States. Robert Emmett enlisted in 1861. Company D, 1st Virginia Cavalry, was slightly wounded at Dumfries, Virginia, captured on the Gettys- burg campaign, near Hagerstown, Maryland. He was sent a prisoner to Baltimore, Maryland, thence to Point Lookout, from which place he escaped after having been a prisoner about three months. He took the field again, and served till the surrender of Lee. His regiment was under Stuart, Jones, and " Fitz Lee," during service. His brother William M. was quartermaster under General Floyd. then served in the 21st Virginia regiment until the surrender. Another brother was eap- tain in the 21st regiment: another lieutenant and quartermaster; still another quartermaster with Floyd, and the sixth of the brothers was assistant commissary of the 21st regiment.
Mrs. Gray is a daughter of Hugh A. McChesney, residing on the Jonesboro road, Washington county. His father, Hugh McChesney. settled in this county from Ireland. Her mother is Julia, daughter of Thomas McChesney, whose father came from Ireland.
Mr. Gray is engaged in farming and stockraising, living on his estate near King Mill.
REV. J. R. HARRISON
Is a son of Joseph Harrison, foreman of the Iron Works of Franklin county, Virginia, and his wife, Lucy, daughter of Peter Kennett, a pio- neer of Floyd county, Virginia. The Harrison and Kennett families were both of Irish extraction. The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin county, Virginia, on September 21. 1832. and was married near Roanoke, Virginia, Rev. P. Brown, of Franklin county, uniting him in wedlock with Sallie E. Lunsford. The issue of this marriage is five children: Elizabeth D., Lalu M., John Wm. (deceased), James K. and Charles T. Mrs. Harrison was born May 6, 1832, in Bedford county, Virginia, and was raised in Roanoke county. Her father was Thomas
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Lunsford, of Northumberland county," Virginia, her mother Elizabeth Nelis, of Bedford county, in which county the Nelms family were early seated.
A number of the immediate family of Mr. Harrison were in the Con- federate States service, during the late war, inchiding two brothers; a brother-in-law who died in service of sickness; and three nephews, one killed in battle of second Manassas, one killed at Gettysburg, and the third severely wounded in battle before Richmond.
Mr. Harrison is pastor in charge of the Baptist church at Glade Spring, Washington county, and is the originator and founder of the justly celebrated Southwest Virginia Institute, of which he is present financial manager. This Institute is now in prosperous condition. having a full corps of able directors, facilities for 150 pupils, and property valued at $20,000. Mr. Harrison is well-known in Virginia, and adjacent States, as a most successful laborer in revival meetings. More than twelve thousand persons have madea public profession of faith in Jesus Christ in meetings conducted by him. A male academy has been foun- dered by him at Glade Spring, and is doing a good work for the education of boys.
L. N. HARWOOD,
Born in Sullivan county, Tennessee, May 18,1852, was reared in Wash- ington county, Virginia. where his parents made their home when he was abont nine years of age. He married in this county, at the residence of the bride, and her birthplace. near Meadow View, on July 15, 1885, Sallie F. Clark, who was born August 15, 1862. They have two dangh- ters, Maggie Frances and Clara Victoria.
Mr. Harwood is a son of William L. Harwood, who was born in North Carolina, married in Lincoln county. that State, to Frances Robinson of Lincoln county, removed soon after to Sullivan county, Tennessee. and about 1859 over the line into Washington county, just north of Bristol, Tennessee. He was in service in the late war, a member of Company (, 13th battalion Reserve Troops, took part in battle of Salt- ville, was captured by the Stoneman raiders, December, 1864, near Bristol, and held a prisoner at Camp Chase, Ohio, till June 27. 1865. He died at his home near Bristol. Joseph E. Harwood, elder brother of L. N., served about three years in Company E, 63d Virginia regiment . was captured in Georgia, in 1864, and held at Camp Douglas, Illinois, eight months.
The wife of Mr. Harwood is of families long seated in Washington county. Her father is Francis S. Clark, son of John B. Clark, and her mother is Catharine, daughter of Robert White, all of Washing- ton county. Her father and mother were married in 1857, by Rev.
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Dr. Wylie, of Emory and Henry College, and still live near Meadow View.
Mr. Harwood is one of the most extensive dealers in lumber in Wash- ington county; residence, Meadow View.
THOMAS T. HAWKINS
Is a farmer and stockman of Washington county. He was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, September 22, 1829, where his family had lived from colonial times. His father was Elisha Hawkins, of Wilkes county, farmer and blacksmith, and his grandfather was Burton Haw- kins, who served in both the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, and who lived to the advanced age of one hundred and five years. The mother of Thomas T. Hawkins was Isabel. daughter of Thomas Roberts, of Wilkes county. The Hawkins family came to Virginia in 1844. Dur- ing the years of the civil war Mr. Hawkins followed his trade as black- smith, and also was engaged in school-teaching. He was thus exempt from military duty, which he could not for conscientious reasons have performed, as he was a strong and uncompromising Union man from first to last. He had one brother in the Confederate army, in the 37th Virginia regiment, Stonewall brigade, and many other relatives in the army on both sides.
The first wife of Mr. Hawkins was Jane Combow, born in Russell county, Virginia, the daughter of Isaiah Combow and his wife, Mary Ann. nee Campbell. Isaiah Combow was a wagon-maker, a son of Samuel Combow of Revolutionary fame, and a school-teacher by profession. This marriage of Mr. Hawkins was solemnized near Lebanon, Virginia, January 29, 1851, and the children of the union were: Maria E., George W., Lafayette I., Thos. Jefferson, Charles Monroe Jasper Newton; and Mary Jane, who died August 3, 1873.
Mr. Hawkins married secondly. Rachel, daughter of Henry Campbell, farmer of Russell county, Virginia, whose father was Richard Campbell, who came from Ireland, and was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Her mother was Cynthia, daughter of Samuel Elliott, a Kentnekian, who settled in Russell county, Virginia, about 1809. The children of Mr. Hawkins' second marriage are: Laura Virginia ; Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant, twins; Henry Wilson, Victoria Isabella, Thomas Edward, Margaret Ann, Joseph M. and Nancy Elizabeth.
JAS. CALVIN HAYTER,
Was born November 11, 1849, on the family estate where he still resides, two miles east of Abingdon. He is a son of James E. Hayter, whose father, James C. Hayter, was born in Washington county at an early date. In colonial days the Hayter family, of Scotch-Irish descent, set-
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tled in the Clinch Mountains, founding Hayters Gap, where the first fort was erected for the protections of colonists from Indians. The fam- ily records go back to 1754, when Israel Hayter was born. The moth- er of Jas. Calvin Hayter was Louisa Bowen Thompson, of Tazewell county, Virginia, a direct descendant of Lord Baltimore.
His wife was also born in Tazewell county, near Liberty Hill, Mary Madison Ward, daughter of Dr. E. B. Ward, her grandfather of Irish descent, one of the first settlers in Tazewell county, founding settlement known as Ward's Cove. Her mother was a Miss Miller of Giles county. Virginia, in which county the Miller family were early seated, and are still honored. They were married by Rev. J. H. Alexander, in Smyth county, Virginia, November 15, 1882, and have now four children: Eddie Blair, Lillie Grace, James Madison, and Louisa Bane.
The father of Mr. Hayter entered the Confederate States Army in 1863, serving till close of war, his last service in Lynch's battery. He was taken prisoner near Wytheville, and held a short time. Benton and Samuel Thompson, maternal uneles of Mr. Hayter, were also in service.
REV. WILLIAM WARD HICKS,
Pastor in charge of the M. E. Church, South, in the East Abingdon district, was born in Washington county, May 11. 1849. He married in Tazewell county, Virginia, October 3, 1872, Mary A. Bane, who was born in that county, October 10, 1850. The issue of this union is . seven children, born in the order named : Charles E .. N. E. May, Maud. William Bane, Marguerite A., Spiller, Ellen Stuart.
The father of William Ward Hicks is Rev. William Hicks, son of William Hicks from Maryland, whose father came from England. His mother is Elizabeth M., daughter of William Ward of Wythe county, Virginia, whose father came from Ireland. William Ward, of Wythe county, married a Miss Young of Tennessee.
Rev. William Hicks, pastor in the M. E. Church, South, was a prom- inent member of the Holston conference, and several times a member of the general conference. He was the Hayward county delegate to the North Carolina convention at Raleigh that passed the ordinance of secession, and during the war was chaplain of the 6th North Carolina Infantry. Before the war he was editor of the Herald of Truth; sub- sequently edited the Holston Advocate, in Virginia; also served as superintendent of public schools in Bland county, Virginia.
The wife of Rev. William Ward Hicks is a daughter of William R. Bane, Esq. of Tazewell county, whose father, Howard Bane, came from Giles county to Tazewell county, the family of Scotch extraction. Her mother was Nancy, daughter of Howard Haven, of Tazewell county.
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MAJOR JOEL W. HORTENSTINE.
About the year 1778 Jacob Hortenstine came from Germany to America, making his home first in Pennsylvania, and coming from that State to Virginia, settling in Washington county. Here his son John Hortenstine grew to manhood and married, his wife being Margaret, daughter of James Wilson, of Washington county, whose wife was Phebe Dryden, who had a brother killed at Kings Mt. battle. Joel W., son of John Hortenstine, and subject of this sketch, was born on the old family homestead where he now lives, February 7. 1841. Before the war he was lieutenant in the Virginia militia, and since the war has held rank of major in the same organization. In March, 1862, he went into service in Jeffries battery, which was in the campaigns of the Confederate Army of the Tennessee, under Humphrey Marshall, Bragg, Joe. Johnston, Hood, and others, and with which he remained until the close of the war. He had one brother killed at Sharpsburg, during Lee's invasion of Maryland; four cousins killed in service, one at Chan- cellorsville, one at Spotsylvania C. H., one at Chickamauga, one in the West.
Since the war Major Hortenstine has been fifteen years notary public, and fifteen years surveyor, which office he is still filling. He married at Maple Grove, Washington county, September 26. 1867, Mary V. Campbell, born in this county, and they have ten children: Edwin C., Annie, Susan B., Margaret S., John. Bernard Todd, Henry R., James W., Jacob L., Raleigh.
Mrs. Hortenstine is the daughter of James L. F. Campbell, an influ- ential farmer of Washington county, living near Abingdon, commis- sioner of revenue and sheriff of the county. Her mother is Rosannah, daughter of Abram McConnell. of this county.
GEORGE W. HUBBLE: M. D.
Previous to the Revolutionary war. Joel Hubble, who was a son of John Hubble. a native of Scotland, came from New York to Southwest- ern Virginia, and settled in Smyth county. His son John Hubble was born at Chilhowie, raised in Smyth county, and married in this county, his wife being Sarah L., daughter of Martin Jones, of Loves Mills. Their son, George W., was born after they made their home in Missouri, at Dayton, that State, April 24, 1844, but has now returned to the home of his fathers, and is settled in practice in Chilhowie.
The maternal ancestors of Dr. Hubble moved to the west in early times, and were men of note there. His grandfather, Martin Jones, became a member of the Illinois legislature and served with honor a number of years. William Jones, brother of Martin, was governor of
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Illinois. Another brother was editor of a paper in St. Louis. A brother of Martin JJones, John Jones, was a Baptist clergyman in Smyth and Washington counties, Virginia, and died in 1834.
Martin Jones was born at Loves Mills, and was a son of John Jones. an early settler there, who came from Wales.
The paternal grandmother of Dr. Hubble was Elizabeth, daughter of Curtis Johnson, of Smyth county, and a first cousin to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.
In 1861, at the age of seventeen years, Dr. Hubble enlisted in Com- pany I, 3d Middle Tennessee Infantry, C. S. A., Governor Brown's regi- ment. He was captured at Fort Donelson, and held at Camp Douglas. Illinois, seven months. After participation in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Spring Dale, Raymond, and siege of Jackson, he was wounded and disabled in battle of Chickamauga. In 1864 he served as deputy postmaster at Seven-Mile Ford. From 1880 to 1884 he filled the office ot supervisor.
Dr. Hubble's wife, whom he married July 16, 1872, at her birth place and father's residence near Seven-Mile Ford, is Mary Amanda F., dangh- ter of William Leonard, Esq.
STEPHEN ALONZO JACKSON.
About 1762 Edward and John Jackson, brothers, left England for America. They lived for a few years near New Castle, Delaware, but having been with a scouting party to the little Kanawha, in Virginia. and being deeply impressed with the fertility of the soil and the abu- dance of game there, they concluded to remove to that region with their families. Consequently they came to Virginia just prior to the revolu- tion, the families expecting to settle as neighbors. But upon arriving at the "Old Field," in Hampshire (now Hardy) county, Elizabeth C'in- mings, the wife of John Jackson, was for stopping there, and did stop, her superior size being a sufficient reason with her much smaller hus- band. She endeavored to persuade Edward, and his wife Martha. to remain there with their families, but Edward asserted his right to decide for himself and those with him, and decided he was going on to Harrison county, unless sealped in the attempt, and went on, settling about four iniles west of Clarksburg, where some of his descendants live to this day.
John Jackson, after a short residence near the present site of Moore- field, moved his family to the Buckhannon river, in what is now Upshur county, West Virginia, and only about a day's journey from where his brother Edward had settled.
Both Edward and John Jackson served in the Revolutionary war, and each had three sons in service, distinguished for bravery. One of these was Capt. Stephen JJackson, wounded in battle of Yorktown. The
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renowned and still lamented Confederate general, "Stonewall" Jackson, third cousin to Stephen Alonzo, was of this stock, inheriting the gentle- ness of his great grandfather, John, and the fire and bravery in time of danger of his great grandfather's brother, Edward.
The line of descent of Stephen Alonzo Jackson from this Edward Jack- son is thus traced : Edward Jackson was the father of Captain Stephen Jackson, who was born July 31, 1764, and married, February 14, 1787, Elizabeth Pomeroy. Their son, Col. Stephen Pomeroy Jackson, was born in January, 1789. He married Hannah Bailey (born November 7, 1793, died February 25, 1834), daughter of Minter and Nancy ( Nor- ris) Bailey. Their son, Hon. Minter Jackson, was born September 20, 1824, and was twice married. His first wife was Mary K. Fell, born August 28, 1830, died March 4, 1856. They had one son, Stephen Alonzo, subject of this sketch, born September 22, 1851, in Glenville, Gilmer county, (then) Virginia; and one daughter, Mary Scott, now Mrs. Dunn, born September 25, 1855. The Hon. Minter Jackson mar- ried secondly, August 10, 1864, Isabella Holt Beattie, a grand daughter of Gen. JJohn Beattie, who was a Comissary general under Gen. Washing- ton in the Revolutionary war. By this marriage were born two children : Walter Beattie and Hannah Belle.
Minter Jackson espousing the cause of the South in the late war, refugeed to Virginia with his parents and children, Stephen A. being then about ten years old. The father, uncles and a host of the cousins of Stephen A. were Confederate soldiers, while many of his maternal relatives were in the Northern army.
At Brook Hall, Washington county, September 5, 1876, Rev. J. O. Sullivan officiating, Stephen A. Jackson married Mary Cloyd Earnest, who was born near Glade Spring. August 7, 1852. They have two chil- dren : Earnest Alonzo, born August 13, 1877 ; Minter, jr., born December 25, 1880.
Mrs. Jackson is a daughter of Col. JJ. Henry Earnest and Amanda J. Earnest, nee Byars. Her maternal grandmother was Elizabeth, daughter of William Beattie, whose father was the Gen. John Beattie before mentioned.
Mr. Jackson is a 32d-degree Mason and a Knight Templar, and past W. G. M. of the Kappa-Sigma Fraternity.
MARSHALL M. JONES,
Born in Nelson county, Virginia, November 19, 1831, is a son of Coleman Jones, of that county, formerly of Bedford county, Virginia, where his father, Owen Jones, settled, coming from London, England. The mother of Marshall M. was Sophia, daughter of Elijah Mays, of Nelson county,
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Virginia, but formerly of King and Queen county, Virginia. Elijah Mays and two of his sons were in service in the war of 1812. By reason of disability Mr. Jones was exempt from military service during the late war. He had five brothers in service, one of whom, Elijah C., was killed in first battle at Manassas.
The first wife of Mr. Jones was Mary J., daughter of James L. Bradley, of Washington county. She was born March 12, 1835, near Abingdon. they were married December 22, 1854, and she died July 18, 1880. They had three sons, James C. and Edward C., now deceased, and Charles I., now of Abingdon. Near Abingdon, October 5, 1882, Mr. Jones married Ella J. Stevens, who was born at Oneida, New York, September 24, 1860. She is a daughter of Amos W. Stevens, who came from New York to Washington county in 1871, and is living near Abingdon. Zadock Stevens, formerly of Oneida, was his father. Her mother, Betsy, daughter of John Shaver, of Columbia county, New York, died near Abingdon, April 1, 1887, aged seventy-two years.
Mr. Jones is a farmer, with residence near Abingdon.
JAMES KELLY
Was born February 2, 1824, on the old family homestead, where he still resides, near Emory, Washington county. He is a son of James' and Nancy Kelly, his father the son of Ezekiel Kelly, who came from Ireland and settled in Virginia near Harpers Ferry. His mother was Nancy, daughter of Jonas Smith, who came to Washington county at an early date, and settled near Emory.
In this county, November 15, 1854, Rev. George R. Barr, D. D., officia- ting clergymen, he married Mahala Helton, and their children were born in the order named : Alice M., Melinda F., James N., Milton F., Jefferson D., Thomas C., William H., Jonas S. The two eldest, Alice and Melinda. are now deceased; James is superintendent of a large and prosperous school near Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Kelly was born in Floyd county. Virginia, July 1, 1829, the daughter of Reuben Helton and Nancy Helton, nee Burnette, who were raised in Floyd county, and later were residents of Washington county.
Mr. Kelly ably filled the responsible office of magistrate for about eight years, before and during the war. He had a number of near rela- tives in active service during the war, among them a cousin, John II. Smith, killed in battle at Saltville.
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JAMES E. KELLY.
About 1770 John Kelly came from Pennsylvania to the then wilds of Washington county, where he founded the family that has since been honorably identified with the growth of the county. He was a soldier of the Continental army, Revolutionary war, and fought at Kings Mountain. His son Andrew E. Kelly, married Joanna, daughter of Major John Edmondson, another of the pioneers of the county, and their son, James E., subject of this sketch, was born February 23, 1811, at their home in the southeast part of this county. Near Osceola, Sep- tember 29, 1836, he married Margaret Buchanan, who was there born July 28, 1814. Her father. William Buchanan, Esq., was many years high sheriff of Washington county, many years magistrate and over- seer of the poor. He was a son of Matthew Buchanan, and he married Jane, daughter of Benjamin Keys, of this county.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Kelly are: William B .. Andrew, Elizabeth C. (deceased), Amanda L., Hay (deceased), John Walter and Sally. The two eldest sons served through the late war in Company F. 37th Virginia regiment. Andrew, orderly sergeant of his company, was wounded at Kernstown. William B., who was made sergeant- major of the regiment, was twice wounded in the right arm, in the same battle. Except when wounded, these brothers took part in every move- ment of the 37th, and at the surrender Andrew was the only able-bod- ied man left of the original eighty-five of the company, and was in com- mand of the fragment of the shattered regiment there, and as such signed all papers relating to the surrender, except the paroles.
James E. Kelly has always been engaged in the cultivation of his farm in Washington county. He filled the office of deputy sheriff two years, and of overseer of the poor six years.
WM. BUCHANAN KELLY.
In colonial days, John Kelly, of Irish descent, came from Pennsyl- vania to Washington county. His son Andrew was a farmer of Wash- ington county. James E. Kelly, son of Andrew, married Margaret. daughter of William Bnchanan, her mother Jean Keys, whose ancestors came to America in the Mayflower. The subject of this sketch is a son of James E. Kelly and his wife, Margaret, and was born January 18, 1838, near Kellys Chapel, Washington county.
He married in this county, near Abingdon, February 14, 1867, at the residence of the bride's father, and her place of birth, Julia E. Lowry. Their children are: Elizabeth Lowry, Margaret Buchanan, Lowry Graham, Grace Bailie, James Montgomery, Julia Isabella, Rob- ert Win. Also two infants died unnamed. Mrs. Kelly is a daughter of
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