USA > Virginia > Virginia and Virginians; eminent Virginians, executives of the colony of Virginia, Vol. II > Part 33
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Francis Preston married secondly Martha Powell Fulton, and there were two children of this marriage, Charles Fulton (deceased ) and Mary Taylor. Mrs. Preston is the daughter of Rev. Creed Fulton, an eminent divine of the Holston conference, the principal founder of Emory and
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Henry College in Washington county, Master Mason. Her mother is Mary, daughter of Major James Taylor, grandniece of Gen. Wm. Camp- bell * of Kings Mountain fame.
HENRY PRESTON,
Farmer and stockman, was born November 20, 1828, on the old home- stead farm known as " Walnut Grove Farm," Washington county. He was married at Redlands, Albemarle county, Virginia, to Anne C. Car- ter, September 7, 1852. She was born near Charlottesville, Virginia, April 19, 1833. They have ten children: Mary Coles, Margaret B .. Ellen B., Elizabeth M., Anne Cary, Henry, jr., Jane C., Isuetta R., Eu- gene F. and Thomas Percy.
Mr.Preston had three brothers in service in the late war: Col. Thos. W. Preston, of Memphis, Tennessee, killed at Shiloh: Walter E., served unharmed through the war: and Col. JJas. T. Preston, who commanded the reserve forces in both battles at Saltville. He is a son of the late Col. John Preston of Walnut Grove farm, who served with rank of lieutenant-colonel in the war of 1812, and was a long time colonel of militia, several years chief magistrate in Washington county, a man of wealth, influence and scholarly attainments. He was a graduate of Dickerson College, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and of the law school of William and Mary College at Williamsburg. He married in 1800, Mar- garet B. Preston, a distant relative, of Montgomery county, Virginia. She was the youngest daughter of Col. William Preston, and the sister of Gov. Jas. P. Preston, of Virginia, of Gen. Francis Preston, and of Col. John Preston, long state treasurer of Virginia. Col. John Preston, father of Henry, was a son of Col. Robert Preston, who settled the Wal- nut Grove farm, and was surveyor in Washington county over fifty years, a man of sterling worth and invincible integrity. He came to this country from Ireland in early manhood, and by industry, energy and ability accumulated great wealth.
*Charles Campbell, younger son of the Duke of Argyle, married Margaret Buchanan of Angusta county, Virginia, and had issue. Gen. Win. Campbell was theirson. A daughter, Elizabeth, married John Taylor of Montgomery county, Virginia, and had issue soyen children. Allen Taylor, a judge of the Supreme Court of Virginia, was their son. Another son, Major James Taylor, married Sally Smith of Russell county, and their daughter Mary married Rev. Creed Fulton. The living children of this marriage are three daughters: Sally Smith : Martha Powell, married as above; Mary Taylor, married Chas. D. Carter of Russell county, a descendant of the same ancestry, his mother being a sister of Major James Taylor. Rov. Creed Fulton is a descendant of Major JJones of Grayson county, Virginia, who served in the legislature of Virginia a term of years and married a Miss Powell of Henrico county.
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Anne C., wife of Henry Preston, was raised at Charlottesville, the daughter of Capt. John C. Carter, of Albemarle county, who was a lin- eal descendant of Robert Carter, whose history is given in Volume I of this work. Her mother was Ellen Bankhead, related to Gen. Bankhead, formerly of the U. S. Army, and the great grand-daughter of Thomas Jefferson.
THOMAS M. PRESTON.
Thomas M., son of Colonel Thomas M. Preston, was born in Wash- ington county, on the family estate where his father was born, near Rock Spring Church, October 27, 1847 the date of his birth. He is a grandson of Samuel Preston, who was born in this county, four miles east of Bristol. His mother, formerly Miss Evaline Gray. of an old Scotch-Irish family, was raised in Washington county. Near Cedarville, this county, at the home of her father, Mr. Preston married, October 21, 1874, Mattie A., daughter of Dr. Christ. C. Alderson. She was born at Lebanon, Russell county, Virginia, her father coming from Russell county in the first year of the war, and settling on Eleven-Mile creek. In 1863 he moved to his present place of residence, Walnut Grove. He is the son of Davis Alderson, who came to Washington county in 1823. Mrs. Preston's mother was Mary Gibson before marriage, of the Russell county family of Gibsons.
Mr. Preston entered the Confederate service one month before reaching the age of seventeen, in September, 1864, Company D, 1st Virginia Cavalry, with which he served till the close of the war. An elder brother, R. B. Preston, served three years in the same company. A half-brother, John M. Preston, was four years in the field, quartermaster of the 37th Virginia regiment, and many other relatives and friends were in service through the war.
Mr. Preston is a farmer, his beautiful home standing on the west bank of Eleven-Mile creek, near its confluence with the middle fork of the Holston river, one of the finest sites in Washington county.
HON. MESHACK S. RATCLIFF,
A farmer of Washington county, was born in Tazewell county, Vir- ginia, March 20, 1834. He was married in that county, June 5, 1850, to Lucinda Rateliff of Tazewell county. The fruit of the union is twelve children: Shadrack W., John R., Lydia Jane (now deceased), Mary Elizabeth, James Money, George W., Maggie Z. (deceased), Augustus Floyd, Eliza R., Sylvester, Vadney V., Louisa M. Richard Rateliff of Tazewell county, son of Richard Rateliff of Montgomery county, was the father of Meshack S. His mother is Lydia, daughter of John Rat-
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cliff of Jackson county, Missouri, in which county he died. Lucinda, wife of Mr. Rateliff, is a daughter of Shadrack Ratcliff, of Tazewell county, whose father, John Ratcliff, died in Jackson county, Missouri. Her mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Brooks Matnet, of Tazewell county.
Mr. Ratcliff was a resident of Buchanan county previous to his com- ing to Washington county, and has worthily filled a number of public offices. He represented Buchanan and Wise counties in the Virginia legislature; was two years postmaster in Buchanan county, and two years commissioner of revenue in that county. In 1861 he went into service, captain Company G, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, and so served through the war. His brother Abednego served in the same company; his brother John S. was captain Company I, same regiment, was cap- tured in 1863, at Cynthiana, Kentucky, and held at Johnsons Island. Lake Erie, till June 27, 1865. Four brothers of Mrs. Ratcliff were in service, one, John M., lieutenant Company G, 10th Kentucky Cavahy, wounded and captured at Cynthiana, Kentucky, in 1863, held at John- sons Island till June, 1865; the other three served in Derrick's battalion of Virginia Infantry. Five cousins bearing the name of Ratcliff were in service; two of them in the 10th Kentucky Cavalry; two command- ing companies, rank of captain.
HARVEY M. RECTOR
Was born near Chilhowie, Sulphur Springs, Smyth county, Virginia, May 4, 1830, and is still a resident of that county, engaged in farming, near Seven-Mile Ford. He married near Chilhowie, July 13, 1854, Lockey S. Walker, who was born near Chilhowie, and the issue of their union was eleven children, all but one of whom are living: Lewis Walton, Unity Bell, Thomas Brown, Susan Elizabeth ( deceased), Fannie Virginia, Margaret Catharine, James Harvey, Narcissus Aker, Mary Alexander, John B. Floyd and Charles Preston.
Mr. Rector was exempted from military service at the beginning of the late war, as manager of the salt works at Saltville, where he remained until after the first battle there. He was then enrolled in King's Battery, stationed for three months at Richmond, then at Saltville a time, then ordered east again, and at Christiansburg at the close of the war, dis- banding there. He had one brother in service, who died of camp fever after return home. He is a son of Moses Rector of Smyth county, many years a class leader of the Methodist Episcopal church, whose father was Benjamin Rector, who came from Fanquier county, Virginia, to Grayson county. The mother of Harvey M. is Snsan, daughter of Will- iam Humphrey, who came from Fluvanna county, Virginia, to Smyth county in middle life.
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Mrs. Rector is the daughter of Daniel Walker, of Wythe and Smyth counties, who was a soldier of the war of 1812. Her mother was Unity Bates Bell, daughter of James Bell of Wythe county, superintendent of the Saltville works, and of the Wythe county lead mines.
DAVID B. REED.
Some time previous to 1790 John Reed of Scotch-Irish descent, came from Pennsylvania to Washington county. His son Arthur was born in Pennsylvania, and married Lucretia, daughter of Benjamin Kees, of Washington county, Virginia. Their son David B. was born near Lodi, this county, September 13, 1827. December 26, 1850, at the home and birthplace of the bride, he married Margaret B. Edmondson, born Jan- uary 20, 1824, near Osceola, this county. She was a daughter of Col. James Edmondson, of this county, who served in the war 1812 with rank of captain, and who was a son of ('aptain Robert Edmondson, who commanded a company in Colonel Campbell's regiment during the Revo- lutionary war, and fought at Kings Mountain. Her mother was Jane Buchanan, daughter of Matthew Buck, who was a son of Andy Buck, who came to this county in early times. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Reed are four, born : James E., September 22, 1851; Lucretia K., May 27, 1853; Elizabeth I. V., April 4, 1858; Arthur Wm., August 1, 1866. On August 1, 1862, Mr. Reed entered Company E, 30th battalion Virginia Infantry, and served with that battalion in the armies com- manded by Early, Longstreet and Breckinridge, through Virginia and East Tennessee, and a short time in Maryland. He was made pris- oner at Waynesboro, Virginia, March 2, 1865, and was held at Fort Delaware until June 20, 1865. He had one brother in service as quar- termaster, with rank of captain, with General Floyd about eighteen months, was then discharged for disability, and died in 1866. Farm- ing is Mr. Reed's occupation, his estate that on which his mother was born.
- CAPT. E. D. RICKETTS.
The greatgrandfather of Capt. Ricketts was Dillard Ricketts, who came from Scotland in colonial days, and settled at Flint Hill, Culpeper county, Virginia, where he married, and had issue three sons. The eldest, George, settled in Hamilton county, Ohio, where he reared a large family, and left numerous descendants. The second son remained on the homestead in Culpeper county, and his descendants have held worthily many enviable positions in public life. The third son, Zacha- riah, emigrated to Marion county, Kentucky, as a Methodist Episcopal minister, where he married and had three sons, the youngest, D. C.
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Ricketts, the father of the subject of this sketch, who was born at Brad- fordsville, Marion county, Kentucky, May 22, 1834. His mother was Sallie, daughter of Abel Weatherford, of Bradfordsville. Abel Weather- ford was of Scotch descent, and his father and mother lived to extreme old age, the mother dying in June, 1849, aged 103 years, and the father dying the next day, aged 104 years, buried in the grave with his wife. He had been a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and wore his uniform with a just pride, up to the day of his death.
Captain Ricketts has been three times married. His first wife was Missouri Forman, born in Nelson county, Kentucky, in 1838, whom he married at Louisville, Kentucky, May 25, 1852, and who died leaving issue one daughter, Mary Frances. Secondly he married, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, November 1, 1851, Lizzie Stivers, born in that county, February 6, 1844, who died March 9, 1866, having been the mother of four children: William M., now superintendent of public schools at Abingdon; James B., now deceased : a babe died unnamed : and John E., killed in a railroad accident at Indianapolis, Indiana, in February, 1885. The third marriage of Capt. Ricketts was solemnized near Abingdon, Virginia, when Eliza D. Galliher became his wife.
Captain Ricketts represented Jefferson county, Kentucky in the Ken- tucky State legislature which passed the ordinance of secession at Russellville, but was also in military service through the war. He vol- unteered in April, 1861, and received commission of captain from Presi- dent Davis, recruited nearly 300 men in Louisville, and took the field as captain of Company B, 6th Kentucky (Confederate) Infantry. His field service ended with Shiloh battle, where he was shot through both legs, after which he served as brigade quartermaster until in 1863, then commanded the 6th Regular Battalion, C. S. A., till the close of the war. Since that time he has been a contractor on railroads, and a lumber merchant and shipper. For the last few years he has been set- tled on his farm in Washington county, near Abingdon.
Capt. R. B. Ricketts, a distinguished soldier, and late Democratic candidate for lieutenant-governor of Pennsylvania, is his consin.
HON. JOHN ROBERTS.
In the days of the early settlement of Washington county, Richard Roberts came to the county from North Carolina. His son Henry Roberts grew to manhood, and became one of the most influential citi- zens of thecounty, a captain in the militia, and many years a magistrate. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Basil Warren, of Washington county. her mother a Miss Clark, whose father, Peter Clark, settled near Emory previous to 1800, coming from Scotland. John, son of Henry Roberts
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and his wife Elizabeth, was born five miles north of Abingdon, on December 9, 1834. Coming of a family whose representatives served in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, he was early interested in military matters, and previous to the late war was several years cap- tain in the militia service. He entered the Confederate States service in April, 1862, lieutenant in Company 1, 48th Virginia regiment, and took part in all its engagements to Chancellorsville, including battles of Me- Dowell, Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic. the seven days fighting around Richmond, Cedar Run, second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericks- burg. At Chancellorsville he lost left leg above knee. He had one brother, David, killed in battle of Gettysburg, while serving under Gen. Ewell, near Culos Hill. Another brother, Henry B., was in service be- fore eighteen years of age, commissioned captain in the Reserve Troops, engaged in battle of Saltville.
Captain Roberts is a farmer and miller. He has been a notary public for the last eight years, and is the present representative from Wash- ington county in the legislature.
His first wife was Margaret, daughter of John Chapman of Washington county, whose wife was Mary, daughter of Stephen and Margaret Lyon, also of this county. The issue of this union was one son, john Henry Roberts. Secondly Captain Roberts married Susan, daughter of William Rhea of Washington county, her mother a Miss Carmick. She died with- out issue. Near Abingdon, in October, 1882, he married Mary H. Bal- zell, who was born in this county, the daughter of David Balzell, whose father, Lawrence Balzell, came to Washington county from France. Her mother's maiden name was Sallie Hanby.
JAMES A. ROBINSON
Was born near Old Glade Spring, Washington county, December 9, 1839. His father, Owen Robinson, of Wythe county, was a son of Beu- jamin Robinson, formerly of Wythe county, later of Missouri. His mother was Caroline Wyatt, born in North Carolina, raised in Washing- ton county, Virginia. He has been twice married, his first wife Sallie, daughter of Thomas Sadler, formerly of Brunswick county, Vir- ginia. They were married in Russell county. Virginia, December 19, 1867, and she died near Emory and Heury College, May 12, 1875, having been the mother of four children. Tillie M., Cora Lee, Seldon R. (now de- ceased ) and James S. Secondly Mr. Robinson married in Lee county, Virginia, July 8, 1877, Ellen C. Miller, born near Montgomery, Virginia. They have one son Benjamin F. Mrs. Robinson is the daughter of John Miller, of Washington county, whose father, also named John Miller, came from Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. Her mother is
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Mary, daughter of Peter Minick, now of Washington county, who came from Pennsylvania.
Mr. Robinson entered the army in April, 1861, Company B, 37th Vir- ginia Infantry. He was severely wounded inbattle at Kernstown, Vir- ginia, March, 1862, was captured at Spotsylvania C. H. May, 1864, and held at Fort Delaware thirteen months, till the close of the war. His regiment was a part of the famous " Stonewall Brigade," and he took part in every movement of that brigade except when wounded or a prisoner. Farming is Mr. Robinson's occupation.
WYNDHAM B. ROBERTSON. :
Wyndham B. Robertson, youngest son of Hon. Wyndham Robertson. governor of Virginia, 1836, married Florence Henderson in Lynchburg, in 1871.
The following interesting pedigree of the descent of Rev. James Hen- derson, grandfather of Mrs. Robertson, is furnished by Mr. Alexander Brown, of Nelson, a relative of the family, to whom it was sent by Michael-John Shaw-Stewart, after it had been verified by the late R. R. Stodart, Lyon clerk in Edinburg :
Archibald Fleming, merchant in Glasgow, Scotland, married Eliza- beth Lennox. Their son, William Fleming, burgess of Glasgow and clerk of the commissariat, married, and died September, 1636. Ilis son, Sir Archibald Fleming of Ferme Park and Catgill, advocate com- missary of Glasgow and Rector of the University, was created a baronet in 1661 ; he married in 1637 Agnes, daughter and heir of David Gibson, notary and burgess of Glasgow; died January, 1662. His son, Sir William Fleming, second baronet, also commissary, married Margaret, daughter of Archibald Stewart, of Scotland : he died in February, 1707. His son, Sir Archibald Fleming, third baronet, married in 1692, Eliza- beth, eldest daughter of Sir George Hamilton, baronet of Binny; died April 14, 1714, leaving issue two sons, and ten daughters. One of these daughters married Lord Elphinstone's eldest son, but died with- out issue; another married Mr. Maschet; a third married a Mr. Hen- derson, and their son is Rev. James Henderson, who came to Virginia. the grandfather of Mrs. Robertson. Margaret, wife of the first Sir William Fleming, was the daughter of Archibald Stewart, who was the second son of Sir Archibald Stewart, Knight, of Blackhall ( by his first wife, Margaret, daughter of Bryce Blair). Sir Archibald descended from Robert HL. of Scotland, and was ancestor of the present Sir Michael-Robert Shaw-Stewart, baronet of Greenock and Blackhall, M. P. for Renfrewshire, etc. Rov. James Henderson was long an honored professor at William and Mary College, his first wife Miss Blair, his
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second, Mrs. Hosbourger, nee Peter. The living children of Wyndham B. Robertson and wife are four: Eliza Holcombe, Wyndham Bolling, Mary Smith, and Walter Henderson, and they have buried three, Will- iam, Chas. Edward and John Rolfe. It will be seen these children are, on the maternal side, of descent from Robert III. of Scotland; on their father's side they descend from King Duncan; while, as an eminent writer has said, " We must not forget the royal blood of the Princess Pocahontas." (See pp. 171-5, Volume I, Virginia and Virginians, for the records of Mr. Robertson's family.)
J. ALEX. RODEFER,
Born at Abingdon, on December 10, 1839, is a son of William Rodefer, of Abingdon, formerly of Shenandoah and Botetourt counties, Virginia, who was a contractor and carpenter from 1827 to the opening of the war, and was post quartermaster at Abingdon during the war. The mother of J. Alex. was Ara, daughter of John Butt, Esq., of Berkeley county, (then) Virginia.
Before the war J. Alex. Rodefer was captain of militia and deputy postmaster. In the spring of 1861 he joined Company D, 1st Virginia Cavalry, with which he served until transferred to Company B, 37th infantry regiment, from which he was discharged in 1863. After that served as chief clerk in the conscription office of his district. He is a carpenter and farmer by occupation; is an A. F. & A. M., Abingdon Lodge, No. 48, past master and member of the Grand Lodge.
At Lynchburg, Virginia, October 12, 1864, he married Anna Lee Johnson, who was born in Hanover county, Virginia, March 10, 1845. Their children were born in the order named: Lula F., William E., Francis R., John W., T. Preston, Sallie F., Robert W. Mrs. Rodefer is a daughter of William H. Johnson, of Hanover county and of Lynch- burg, her mother Louisa A., daughter of William Taylor of Caroline county, Virginia.
FRANCIS SMITH,
Born in County Monahan, Ireland, on September 30, 1815, is a son of Andrew Smith, who came from Ireland to Virginia about 1816, settled in Fluvanna county, removed in 1832 to Botetourt county, and died there aged sixty-nine years. His mother was Phebe, daughter of John MeEntire, Esq., of County Monahan, born in Ireland, came to Virginia. with her husband. Francis Smith married at Holston Springs, Scott. county, Virginia, September 20, 1842, Eliza B. Grim, who was born at Abingdon, September 9, 1824. Ten children were born to them : Susan, Win. Andrew, Charles H., David, D. F., Emma, Milton HI., Mary C.,
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Robt. E. Lee, Paul N. Wm. Andrew was killed by accident while at home during the late war. David, Emma and Milton are now deceased.
The wife of Mr. Smith is of the Grim and Nulton families, both of German extraction, and long settled in Virginia. Her father was Will- iam Grim, of Abingdon, formerly of Winchester, where most of the Grim family reside, and who served under Gen. Harrison in the war of 1812. and was present at Detroit at Hull's surrender. Her mother was Susan Nulton of Winchester.
Mr. Smith is a farmer, contractor and builder of Abingdon. He was assistant commissary of subsistance with Captain Alderson at Abingdon during the war, and the last two years of the war was a member of the advisory board.
COL. JOHN C. SUMMERS,
Is commonwealth attorney for Washington connty, and a resident of Abingdon. He is a son of Col. Andrew Summers who married Olivia W. Hawkins, of Gallia county, Ohio. Col. John C. Summers, born in 1841 west of the Blue Ridge, in what is now West Virginia, was a refugee from that section when that State was created. At Abingdon, in 1867, Rev. James McChain officiating, he married Nannie M., daughter of John F. Preston of Abingdon. Their children are ten: John F. Preston, Lewis P., Olivia Wirt, Robert James, Jennie Pinckney, Nannie May, Sallie Morgan (or Fannie Rhea), Sunshine. Andrew, Von Moltke and John C.
At the outbreak of the war between the States, John C. Summers en- tered service in the provisional army of Virginia, captain of Company A, 3d regiment, Wise's Legion, the regiment later becoming the 60th Virginia Infantry, C. S. A. He was with hiscommand, in constant and active service, receiving successive promotions, major, lieutenant-colonel. and colonel, until captured in the second battle of Winchester. From that time till the close of the war he was held prisoner at Camp Chase, Ohio.
JACOB O. SUSONG
Was born on October 16, 1863, in that part of Washington county, Virginia, lying near Bristol, Tennessee, where he has made his home ever since, and is now farming. M. S. Snsong, now of Bristol, Tonnes- see, a successful farmer, is his father, and his grandfather was JJacob Susong, formerly of Rockbridge county, Virginia, who came to Wash- ington county many years ago. The father of this Jacob Snsong was the founder of the family in Virginia, Andy Susong, who came to Amer- ica from France, settling first in Pennsylvania, and removing thence to Virginia. The mother of Jacob O. is Mary Ellen, daughter of James Buchanan, of Washington county, who married a Miss Ryburn of Glade Spring.
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WILLIAM C. TADLOCK,
Now one of the farming residents of Washington county, Virginia, his home near Abingdon, is a native of Tennessee, born in Green county, that State, October 7, 1827. His parents were Sevier and Mary Tad- lock, the former the son of Lewis Tadlock who came from England to Tucaho, Virginia, in colonial days, and the latter a daughter of John Blair of Washington county, Tennessee, the Blair family also of English extraction.
The first wife of William C. Tadlock was born in East Tennessee, July 23, 1826, Emily S., daughter of Samnel Miller, of Washington county, Tennessee, who married Mary Hornbarger, of the same county. She became the wife of Mr. Tadlock at Jonesboro, Tennessee, April 11, 1850, and departed this life on April 2, 1864, having been the mother of seven children. Of these two are now deceased, Mary E. and Samuel A. The living children are: James W., Sevier N., Laura A., William A., John B. February 22, 1866, Mr. Tadlock married Catharine E., daughter of Henry and Catharine Snavely, of Smyth county, Virginia, and widow of Umberson Miller.
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