USA > West Virginia > Monroe County > A history of Monroe county, West Virginia > Part 37
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GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
C. of William, Jr .: Elizabeth (b. 1798) (Robert Young, 1821)-John H. (1800-1877) (Adaline Dunlap, 1828, Clara S. Peck, 1833)-Anna (b. 1802) (Lorenzo D. Cook, 1831)-Jean (b 1805) (Andrew Shanklin, 1826) -Mary (b. 1808) (Moses D. Kerr, 1840)-Elliott (1812-1874) (Julia Pack, 1839)-James (1814-1888) (Eliza J. Peck, 1845, Elizabeth Lybreck 1878).
The only son to remain in Monroe was John H., a civil engineer, county surveyor, and delegate to the Virginia Assembly. In the Confederate ser- vice he was a captain on the staff of General Echols.
C. of John H .: John W. (b. 1834) (captain Co. D, 27th Va.) (Eliza- beth D. Kean, 1866)-Elizabeth M., Margaret A. (s)-Lewis A. (1838- 1900) (Mary Adair, 1862, Emily M. Dameron, 1867)-James E. (1840- 1862)-Charles E. (b. 1841)-Allen H. (s)-Matilda E. (William Far- rier, 1873-Sarah J. (Frank P. Sweeny, 1867)-Joseph S. (dy)-Clara V. (Lewis Peck)-Henry A. (Nettie Baber, 1885)-George W. (b. 1855) (Eliza J. Gwinn, 1855) .
Of the above J. W., J. E., C. E. and L. A. were in the Confederate army. All were captains. J. E. was killed at Seven Pines and J. W. was wounded at the Wilderness. J. W. became a professor, L. A., a physician, and H. A. a business man of Indianapolis. Only G. W. has remained in the county. His children are Josephine (Otey A. Hines) and Robert G.
C. of John W .: John A. (s)-Nelson C. (Sarah E. Paxton)-Clara M. (William Alfred)-William A. (Mabel C. Shorter)-Charles K .- Andrew E. (s)-James S. (Mary S. Pyle)-Henry A.
C. of Lewis A. (by 1st w.) : Mary S. (s)-John W. (illustrator for J. W. Riley and others)-Clara P. (s)-Charles E. (graduate of Emory and Henry, 1866-president of Miller Training School, Va.
WAITE
Among the best loved and most useful citizens Monroe has known were the brothers, James Y. and Anderson M. Waite, natives of Fau- quier, who studied medicine at Baltimore. In 1846 James Y. came to "Walnutta" near Pickaway, but soon moved to Rocky Point. It was at this time that his brother came to assist him in his large practice. These two men lived strenuous lives, ministering perhaps to two-thirds of the population of the county, for in their time doctors were few and far between, and there were no automobiles, trained nurses, or antiseptics, and the nearest hospital was at Richmond. They are remembered with love and gratitude by a host of old and middleaged people. The elder brother spent his declining years with a daughter at Glenville, and the younger moved to Texas about 1787.
C. of James Y. (Elizabeth Correll, 1835) : Samuel C. (s) (k. Leetown,
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
'64)-James W. (s) (k. '62)-Elizabeth A. (George W. Silcott, 1868) (b. 1810, d. 1891) .
C. of Anderson M., b. 1817 (Susan M. McClung, 1845) : William M. (Margaret Bare)-John M. (Lucy Rock, Lizzie Shepperd)-Eliza S. (John W. Patton)-Joseph D. (Martha Branch, Arma Mulky)-James B. (Eunice Moore).
WALKER
Andrew of Botetourt in 1806 bought the Matthew (Elizabeth) Creed place at mouth of Hans. Robert (d. 1852) lived on Turkey.
WALLACE
Peter, an immigrant from Scotland, settled in Rockbridge in 1738 and had several sons in the Revolution. A descendant was James (b. 1775c) (Elizabeth Huffman), an uncle to "Big Foot" Wallace, a famous Texas pioneer and Major William Wallace, killed in that state at the Fannin massacre during the Texan war for independence. Samuel, a son of James, came from Rockbridge in 1850, and in 1854 permanently located three miles south of Union. He was a well known citizen, staunch and resolute, and a tanner and farmer.
C. of James: Tolliver, William, Samuel (Elizabeth Smith), Eliza, Mag- dalene, Mary, Sarah.
C. of Samuel: John J. (Mo.)-Preston G. (Wise Co.)-Clinton (Mo.) -David H. (Monroe)-Samuel C. (Monroe)-Sarah E. (Jesse Cooper) -Mary J. (William Burdett)-Ann A. (George Smith)-Paulina (R. E. Smith)-Magdalene (Walter H. Pyne).
WANSTAFF
Lewis (Mary Fisher) died in Pendleton, 1801. Widow married, 1803, Christopher Shaver of Greenbrier. C. of Lewis: Jacob (b. 1793) (Potts Cr. )-Mollie (William Dunsmore)-Catharine (James Rose --- Ross ?).
WARREN
Uriah (1777-1855) (Elizabeth Stevens, 1800) came from Rockingham and lived near Rehoboth. He was probably a grandson of an older Uriah, who as a victim of a shipwreck, was landed at Plymouth, Mass., by a Dutch ship. But there seems to have been an earlier Warren family on Rich Creek, perhaps derived from Jacob (Ann), a yeoman who died in Augusta about 1769.
Stuart I. (1833-1890), a son of Thornton (Delilah Jarrett) of Rich Creek, was born in Greenbrier and became a forceful and pungent jour- nalist. He came to Union about 1854, purchased the Farmer's Friend and renamed it the Union Democrat. After five years he returned to Green- brier, but the war soon came on and after his term of service therein he abandoned journalism, much to the regret of his friends. He returned
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GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
to Monroe and became a farmer. He had a terse and quaint literary style and was quick to see the ridiculous. His wife was Mary C. Johnson, whom he married in 1858, and his children were Eleanor T. (Jacob A. Riffe), Dr. Otey Y. (m. in Mont. ), and George W., (Rose Harlow), a lawyer, journalist, and banker.
WICKLINE
Jacob (1750-1821) came to Sweet Springs valley about 1792. He may have been a descendant of a Wicklein who came from Saxony to Philadel- phia about 1696. Jacob's wife was Catharine Sparr (1754-1820). C: George (1775-1864) (Mary Miller)-Jacob (1777-1863) (Susanna Magart of Adam, 1805)-Rachel (1780-1861) (Thomas Lowe, 1800)-Margaret (b. 1783c) (Thomas Buckland, 1806)-Susanna (1789-1854) (John Tyger, 1809)-John (1791-1851) (Elizabeth Patten of Penn.)-Elizabeth (1793- 1871)-Daniel (1795-1869) (Elizabeth)-Elijah (1799-1879) (Elizabeth Lewis, 1821).
WEIKEL
George was born in Augusta about 1776 and came to Monroe about 1797, or perhaps not until 1803, at which date he purchased two pieces of land. He was accompanied by his brothers Philip (Anna) and John (Catharine), both of whom bought land but moved farther west and have no posterity in this county. George's house stood close to the present resi- dence of Michael Murphy, a mile west of Salt Sulphur. It was also a place of worship, for he was a zealous pioneer Methodist and esteemed his duty to the church of his choice to be of prime importance. He was a person of plain, unassuming manners and sterling honesty. His children were by his first wife, Magdalena Michael, who came with him from Augusta. About 1825 he married Elizabeth Ramsay. He lived to old age. His ancestry was Holland-German. C: Jacob (b. 1798) (Sarah Raines)-William (1800-1892) (Jane Crawford, Nancy Arnott)-Henry (- Rose, - Wiseman) -Alexander (Eliza M. Wiseman of Owen, 1844)-Eli-George (- Smith, - Milburn)-Jackson (Smith)-Mary ( --- Williams)-Elizabeth (- Hutchinson) -Nancy (Henry Wise-
man) - Margaret (Robert Wiseman, 1838). The posterity in Monroe are from Jacob, William, Alexander, Jackson, and George, Jr. The others went West, usually to Ohio.
C. of Jacob: George (Agnes Clark)-James-Elizabeth (John Taylor) -Caroline (Joseph Sherwood)-Mary (Patrick Cavanaugh)-Letitia (Elisha Raines)-Julia A. (John Murphy).
C. of George of Jacob: Charles (- Magnet, Annie Ballard)-Robert (Lizzie Brown)-Agnes (- Crosier)-Margaret (William Broyles) .
C. of James of Jacob: Michael (- ---- Williams)-William A. (- Williams)-Jacob (- Allen)-Cass (Newton Allen).
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
C. of William: Hutchinson (Nancy Wiseman)-George (- Don- aldson, Mahala Brown)-Mary (George Miller)-Lewis (Margaret Ar- not Butts)-Samuel G. (Jane Baker)-Virginia (Alexander Ellison)- Charles F. (Rebecca Baker)-Margaret (Henry M. Pyles)-Hamilton by 2d w .- Addison M. (s)-Emma R. (s), William F. (b. 1864) (Cora Ballard). W. F. has been a county superintendent.
C. of Alexander: Owen (Malinda Harvey)-Sylvester (Amanda Ar- not)-Michael (Josie Hutchinson)-G. Washington (Agnes Harvey)- Robert (Caroline Baker)-Fletcher M. (Mollie Parker)-Morris (- Wickline)-Jane (Jesse Baker)-Mary (G. W. Pyles) .
C. of Jackson: William (- - Ballard)-Caperton (Nancy Ballard) -John (- Payne).
C. of George, Jr .: Henry (Eunice Ballard)-Lewis.
The resemblance of Henry Weikel to Abraham Lincoln caused his friends to lay a wager that he could chop, split, and lay up 300 rails in one day.
WILLEY
Abijah was a native of England who fought in the Revolution and the war of 1812 and married Susan Grant, related to General Grant. C: Eber (b. in Vt. 1797, d. 1870) (- Maddy, 1821, Juda Symms, 1844) -Henry-Margaret (Frances Nickell, 1802) .
WILLIAMS
William Williams of Welch descent settled at a very early day near Alderson. His son Richard purchased a large tract near Lewisburg and lived there until his death. Elijah, a son of Richard, moved to Ohio, but came back and located in Monroe in 1851. George R. (1835-1912) mar- ried Mary C. Beamer and lived on his father's place near Monitor. C: Emma (S. R. Rodgers), Elliott (Elizabeth Westbrook), A. Newton (Car- oline Bean), Edwin L. (Minnie Irons), Homer L. (Roberta Crawford), Er- nest M. (Josephine Madden), Rebecca C. (Rev. R. C. Davidson), Virginia E. (Rev. T. B. Stewart), Minnie E., Mary E., J. Franklin (Mary E. Bearden).
J. F. and E. L. are physicians. Mary E. graduated with high honors in the Lewisburg Female Seminary and after teaching very successfully in select schools in Monroe and in Virginia and South Carolina, attended in 1896 the Moody Institute at Chicago. While there she was selected to take charge of an important girls' school of the M. P. Church and located at Yokohama, Japan. She sailed for this post of duty the following year and was its principal until 1911. She threw her whole soul into the work, and had the satisfaction of seeing in a short while that more modern buildings were put up and a kindergarten department added. She came home on furlough to attend her parents in their last days, but on the last day in 1915 returned to Nagoya, Japan, to engage in training Bible women.
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GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
There was another early family of this name on Glenn's Run of Rich, the head of which was Felix (1766-1856), a native of Orange. He had a mill on Rich. He had a daughter Polly and seemingly other children. One daughter married a Hutchinson. Still another Williams was Moses, whose children were Samuel (d. 1781c), David, Alexander, John, Mar- garet, Ann.
Geo. Williams lived in Potts Valley since civil war. C .: Henry, J. K. (Va.), A. W. (- -- Keister), F. M. (1st w., - 2d w., Miss Hall) .
WILLIS
The name Willis appears very early among the people on Indian Creek, but we have no connected knowledge of the older members. Henry, whose wife was Elizabeth, died in 1812 leaving personalty of $157.11. He had a daughter Tabitha.
James M. (1834c-1899) lived on Wolf Creek, where he was in high repute as an impartial justice of the peace. During his three terms none of his decisions was ever appealed. He married Caroline, daughter of George W. Haynes. His children are L. C. (- Burdette), George P. (Mrs. - Jones Hall), Edgar (dy), Ella (W. C. Campbell), Sarah (David Patton), Della (- - Tyree), Rena (- - Black), Nannie, and Rose.
WILSON
John (d. 1781c) (Elizabeth)-appraisment by John Hutchinson, Thomas Shelton, Adam Caperton, James Allen.
Andrew (Mary Pettigrew) came to Monroe from Craig Co., 1821. C .: John (- Green), Nat (Mary Neel), Elkanah (Elizabeth Wiseman). C. of Elkanah. Mary and Jennie. Elkanah Wilson was assessor several terms.
WINEBRENNER
Philip (Mary McTheglan), a blacksmith, lived near Pickaway, his shop standing near the present pond in the field of Mrs. Irons. He was a native of Germany and removed to Ohio about 1847. C: Michael (Mary A. Foster of James)-James (- Stone)-Calvin (s).
C. of Michael: Sarah F. (William McMann)-William (Delia Stin- son)-Lewis (Mary Cooper)-Samuel-Thomas (Edwina Coleman)-Rob- ert (- Cooper)-Eliza (Josiah Unrue)-Mary J. (- Carver) -- Margaret (Thompson James).
C. of James: Laura (- Reed)-Mary (- Douglas).
C. of William: May (William Bailey)-Rosa (- -- Vaughan)- Sarah-Ruth.
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
WISEMAN
Isaac (Elizabeth) came from Bucks Co., Penn., soon after the Revolu- tion, and settled not far from Rehoboth. C: Joseph (b. 1759) (Elizabeth) -John (1760-1842) (Sarah Green)-Sarah-Isaac-Jacob-Rachel-Sam- uel-Abner (Isabel Blanton, 1800)-Elizabeth-Margaret (Bartholemew Ramsay, 1799)-William (Mary Ramsay, 1801). John, Isaac, and Sam- uel went to Ohio. One daughter married a Blanton and they went with Abner to Kentucky. The latter lived while here on Dropping Lick. John, a Methodist minister ordained by Bishop Asbury, removed to Perry Co., O., in 1818.
C. of John: Elizabeth-Mary-Margaret (Aaron Morgan)-Ann- James G .- John R. (1796-1879) (Mary Bostick, 1825)-Isaac (Sarah Hull) -Sarah (Thomas (Bratton, 1815)-4 others. Mrs. Jennie Byrnside is a daughter of J. R.
We are told that the Wiseman connection still represented in the county are a related branch, but we are without definite information.
WOODS
The will of William (Shusanna) is dated 1775 and was recorded 1782. Executors, Dr. Thomas Walker and William Woods of Albemarle and Michael Woods of Fincastle, the county in which the home on Rich was situated. The lands in Albemarle to be sold to pay debts; the older chil- dren-Michael, William, Adam, Archibald, Mary-to have no share in stock and household furniture, but to have slaves and outlying debts; the younger ones were John, Andrew, Elizabeth, Hannah, Sarah, Peter; Peter the youngest, to have homestead and one year's schooling; wife to have slave Fanny; Mary to have slave Hannah; still not to be sold, but all the children to have an equal right to "her;" George Swope a witness to will.
WOODSON
In the year 1832 the Baptist State Board at Richmond appointed Edwin W. Woodson to go to Monroe county as a missionary; there to spread the gospel and establish the Baptist faith. The young man unflinching in his duty took his widowed mother with her family and settled near the pres- ent site of Forest Hill, now Summers county. His younger brother, Zach- ariah, later settled on Greenbrier river where the town of Talcott now stands. Edwin traveled over a large territory now comprising the coun- ties of Monroe, Summers, Raleigh, Mercer and Giles, faithfully fulfilling the arduous duties of a pioneer minister. He organized a number of Baptist churches the nuclei of a great many of the present organizations. He married Adaline B. Landcraft, of Nelson county, both being of Eng- lish ancestry. He was cut down in the prime of his usefulness in 1851. From these two brothers sprang the present Woodson families of Monroe and adjoining counties.
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GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
WOODVILLE
James Lewis Woodville was the grandson of John Woodville, an Eng- lish clergyman, and his wife, Sarah Stevenson, whose brother Andrew Was ambassador to England during the administration of President Jackson. His father was James Littlepage Woodville, a lawyer of ability who prac- ticed in the courts of Monroe and Greenbrier. He married Mary Sophia, sister to William L. Lewis, Sr., of Sweet Springs. James L., whose only brother died in infancy, was born January 8, 1820, studied at Kenyon Col- lege, Ohio, and the University of Virginia, winning a handsome gold medal for proficiency in Greek. He then studied medicine in Richmond and Philadelphia, being connected several years with Blakeley Hospital. He then practiced as a physician at Fincastle and later at Sweet Springs until shortly before his death, Aug. 14, 1904. He was a resident physician at the latter place forty years and was a surgeon in the Confederate army. In 1852 he married Mary A., daughter of Cary and Emma (Gilmer) Breckenridge. His home, "Glencove," is now the home of his son, Cary B.
WRIGHT
Stephen was a native of England. C: Kate (- - Gillespie, Brown),-William (Ellen Hamilton), Taylor (Caroline Cochran), Juliet (J. Stephenson), Joseph, Nettie (T. George) .
George (Agnes) was living on Greenbrier River in 1813.
WYLIE
This name, more usually in the form Wiley, appeared in Augusta be- fore 1749. Members of the connection settled in the Sinks of Monroe, and on Anthony's and Potts creeks, at Newcastle, and at the Narrows. John (d. 1810) (Lydia) was settled in the Sinks as early at least as 1781. C: Martha (Henry -), Fisk, John, Margaret, Jane, Robert, James, Sarah (cripple).
Thomas (Jane Cochran, 1807) was, as we understand, the parent of Cochran (1815-1899) and Andrew (1818-1900) (Agnes A. Boyd, 1845, Louisa Gwinn) . The last named settled in Cove valley in 1836, at which time it was almost a wilderness.
Robert (d. 1799) (Sarah) left $64 for the use of a daughter of Wil- liam Little of county Armaugh, Ireland, and other legacies totaling $491 .- 36. C: John, Thomas, Robert, William. One son married Happy Gat- liff. Henry (Mary) Willey, of Brush Cr. would seem to be another mem- ber, as he was a brother to Robert, William, Abigail. The styles Wylie, Wiley, and Willey were for a while much confused.
YOUNG
The forefather of the Youngs of this county crossed the Atlantic to Pennsylvania about 1750. The following brothers and sisters came to
V
+20
A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
the Andrew Irons place in the Sinks about 1788: James (d. 1822) (Susan Dickson)-Robert (d. 1815) (Sarah Glenn, 1792)-William (Susanna Clark, 1788c)-Margaret (1796-1862) (James Glenn, 1818). Of Andrew, Sarah, and Lydia no record is known. James Young and James Glenn were Presbyterian elders. The father of the family may have been William (Jean), who died in 1802. His will mentions James, Sarah, Elizabeth, Jean (~ Cook), and Nancy (- Kincaid) .
C. of James: Nancy N. (1790-1865) (Thomas M. Gibson, 1845)- James (1792-1854) (Virginia Irons)-Robert (Jane Curry)-Margaret (1796-1862) (James Young-Sullivan?, 1810?)-Joseph (Nancy Rodgers) -Elizabeth (Joseph Parker, 1824)-Lydia (Jesse Parker)-Polly D. (Wil- liam Leach)-Susanna (Robert Leach)-Sarah ( ?James Campbell, 1806) . Robert went to Harrison county, Joseph to Mo.
C. of James: Sarah A. (Dr. J. M. Skaggs).
C. of Robert: James (1793-1854) (Margaret Young, 1810)-Robert (1795- 1870) (Elizabeth Vawter, 1821)-George G .- William-Andrew.
C. of William: Margaret (1796-1862) (James Young of Robert, 1810) -Robert (s)-Susanna (1800-1881)-William (b. 1802) (Jean Lynch, 1833) .
C. of James of Robert: Sarah G. (1819-1899)-Susanna (b. 1821) (John Irons)-Nancy (Thomas Gibson, 1846)-Elizabeth (Andrew Irons)- George G. (1829-1909) (Emily Johnson, 1874-William-James G. (1833- 1904) (Margaret Young, 1856) .
Nancy and Elizabeth were wedded the same day, one by a Methodist minister and the other by a Presbyterian.
C. of James G. : Robert (Mary Miller)-Etta (Lewis A. Miller)- Anderson (Catharine Lynch)-William A. (Cora Baker)-Adgar (s)- Anna (Beirne Dransfield)-Emma (- Lowry)-Margaret A. (Hugh Smiley, 1854) .
C. of Robert of Robert: Amanda, Addison Price, 1843)-Mary J. (1823-1895) (Andrew Y. Windell, 1843)-William V .- Sarah A. (1828- 1904) (Joseph Fleshman, 1866)-Adeline D .- James G. (1832-1892) (Man- dana S. Thrasher, 1867)-Elizabeth E. (James P. Peck, 1880)-George P. (1837-1908) (Nancy Peck, 1872) .
C. of James G. of Robert, Jr .: William R., Eva S. (James P. Peck, 1880), James E., William R. (Estella Price), Eva S. (- --- Mace), Maggie G. ( --- Huling).
C. of George P. of Robert, Jr .: Georgia (John R. Johnson), Charles E., Mary F.
C. of William, Jr .: John C. (1835-1912) (Ann E. Campbell, Mattie A. Johnson)-Mary S. (b. 1836) (Robert M. Beamer, 1853)-William P. (1838-1913) (Lee B. Gibson)-Isabel (John Campbell).
C. of John C .: Beirne C. (Roberta Hodge)-Annie (J. Everett Nick-
421
GENEALOGIC AND BIOGRAPHIC
ell) ; by 2d w .- Alta J. (Texas Lynch)-J. Glenn (Floy Reynolds) -Ray (Edith Nickell)-J. Elmer-Dwight-Clyde-Frank. The last four are merchants of Fairbury, Neb. J. G. is a physician in Wisconsin.
C. of B. C .: Elaine.
C. of Annie (Nickell) : Kenneth (Mary Duncan), Gladys, Ralph and Calvin.
C. of William P .: Landon C., Earl S., Alma, and Mrs. S. M. Baylor.
The county records mention many other Youngs, seemingly not of the above connection.
ZOLL
William von Zoll of Saxony came to Pennsylvania about 1774, and at Germantown in that state he married Margaret Righter. Soon after 1800 his sons, William, Jacob, and Joseph, settled in Virginia.
C. of William (1783-1857) (Jane E. Smith, 1808) : Caroline (1810- 1855) (Randolph Stalnaker, Sr., 1830)-Jacob (1812-1894) (Mary J. Dun- lap, 1840)-Elizabeth (dy)-William (Sarah M. Alderson, 1848)-Re- becca (Henry Stowers, 1841)-Joseph (b. 1820) (Isabella E. Dunlap, 1847) -Jane (Robert Stowers, Sr., 1841)-Henry A. (s)-James (1827-1908) (Elizabeth Montgomery, 1859)-Julia (Thomas Thixton)-Martha (John Hall, 1866)-Harriette (b. 1833) (Henry Rigg, 1852) .
Joseph and William went to Mo. Jacob was a very prominent citizen of Union during the war period. C: Harriette D. (1841-1877) (Capt. J. D. McCartney)-Rebecca J. (John Mann)-Annie E. (John M. Alex- ander)-Isabel (M. S.' Alexander)-Caroline (C. S. Mckenzie)-Lucy B. (C. L. Clark)-Charles L. (Sarah McQuen)-Grace D. (William Rapp).
XXXV
THE SOLDIERS OF MONROE
American Wars-Military Organizations of 1861-Soldiers of 1861.
OME one has said with a good deal of truth that no one would read history if war were left out of it. The recent writers and teachers of history lay increased em- phasis on the economic phases of the subject. This is wise and practical, although it has been giving aid to the idea that great wars had become impossible. The more civilized of the world's nations were running too much to fat instead of muscle when rudely awakened in the summer of 1914. Militarism is a fearful evil, and yet a sturdy patriotism does not work in the same harness with a smug and unreasoning pacificism.
The early settlers of this region were nurtured in the hard school of Indian warfare. Every man and every boy might with only a moment's warning have to become a fighter. Women and girls, while forting in the stockades, moulded bullets for their pro- tectors to shoot at the stealthy redskin. The settlers of Monroe fought at Point Pleasant and in the border skirmishes of the Rev- olution. Among the immigrants after that war were men who had campaigned under Washington, Green, and Lafayette.
When our first president called out 15,000 men to put down the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, the One Hundred and Eighth Regiment of the Virginia militia was one of the organizations that made response. There was no fighting, for resistance was seen to be folly.
In the war of 1812 soldiers from Monroe marched to the de- fense of Norfolk and suffered from illness due to the change of climate.
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THE SOLDIERS OF MONROE
The war with Mexico called out only a small number of vol- unteers. Among these were several from Monroe.
The great war of 1861 called out almost the entire military population, both North and South. The Americans of that day had not grown soft. They had not yet fully emerged from the at- mosphere of the pioneer period. Legends of the Indian wars were household words to them. They were a husky stock, rather war- like in temperament, and they made as good soldiers as the world has known.
The men of this county who took a hand in that war were almost wholly in the Confederate service. At the close of this chapter we give as complete a list as it has been possible to secure. Some of the commands were not wholly composed of Monroe men.
The Monroe Guards were organized in the winter of 1859-60. John Echols was their first commander. May 13, 1861, they marched from Union, 104 strong, and became a part of the Twenty- Seventh Virginia Infantry, which served in Stonewall Jackson's famous "foot cavalry." It was this regiment that helped to break the Federal center at the second battle of Manassas.
Lowry's Battery left Greenville-then Centerville-in June, 1861. The day was notable, a large crowd being present. The company was attached to the Thirteenth Battalion of Light Artil- lery. When it disbanded at Christiansburg, a few days after the surrender of Lee, the men were eulogized by General Echols for their bravery and faithfulness, and told to be good and obedient citizens after their return home. The first officers were William M. Lowry, captain; Beirne Chapman, first lieutenant ; W. V. Young, second lieutenant; Charles H. Dunlap, third lieutenant; John H. Pence, orderly sergeant; A. J. Keadle, first sergeant; J. P. Shank- lin, second sergeant; J. C. Woodson, third sergeant.
W. M. Lowry came from Bedford a few years before the war to engage in the practice of medicine at Centerville. He was gen- tle and magnetic, handsome and commanding. To his men he was considerate, and by them he was beloved. Whenever he could, he
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
sent his disabled men home, or to a private family, instead of to a hospital. This had much to do with the few fatalities among them.
Another of the first companies to go to the front was that of the Monroe Sharpshooters, who were attached to the Sixtieth Vir- ginia Infantry, of the brigade that was first commanded by General McCausland and afterward by Colonel Thomas Smith, and con- stituted a part of the division under Breckenridge. When the sharp- shooters left Union, they were presented by the ladies of that town with a silk flag. Beirne Chapman made the presentation address in a speech of inspiring eloquence.
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