BIOGRAPHY, Rockbridge County, VA- "A" ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** SAMUEL ADAIR- is one of the substantial farming residents of Rockbridge County, where he was born February 10, 1809, and has passed the years of his busy and useful life. He has a good farm of 130 acres, between Kerrs creek and Rockbridge Baths. He was a son of John and Polly (McCorkle) Adair, and he married Nancy H., daughter of William and Nancy (Welch) McCorkle. She was born in Rockbridge county in 1814, they were married in this county, March 23, 1843, and her death occurred April 27, 1863. Their children were: William H., born December 2, 1844; Lafayette, July 18, 1846; John G., December 23, 1849- these two now having homes in Rockbridge county; Samuel A., September 16, 1851, lives at home; Sallie M., August 19, 1854, died September 26, 1859; Florence M., August 8, 1856, lives at home. Two of these sons were Confederate soldiers, one serving through the war, and the other, William H., a member of Company C, 1st Virginia Cavalry, serving with his company until the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, when he went with the company into a charge, and never returned. He was said by some to have been killed by a shell, but his fate is that bitterest of record of war "Returned missing." Samuel Adair's postoffice address is Kerrs Creek, Rockbridge County, Virginia. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by Angela M. Ruley, ********************************************************************** JOHN AGNER- born in Rockbridge county, June 28, 1806, was a son of George and Susan (Siders) Agner, natives of this county, and now many years dead. His paternal grandparents came from Germany to America prior to the Revolution, and were ardent patriots, holding many thousand dollars of the Continental money. In April 1829, in Rockbridge county, John Agner married Mary Hughes, who was born in this county, in 1807, a daughter of Jonathan and Ruth (Patterson) Hughes. Her parents were born here, and died many years ago. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Agner were nine: Jonathan, Susanna, Richard, Leanna, George, David, William, Joseph Spriggs, and American Jane. Four sons entered the Confederate service. Jonathan, George, David and William, and the first named gave his life for the Lost Cause on the battle-field of Winchester, 1863. John Agner followed the trade of cooper for many years. His post office is Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by Angela M. Ruley, ********************************************************************** ALEXANDER - Archibald, Robert, and William, sons of William Alexander, Sr., came from near Londonderry, in 1737, and lived about ten years near Philadelphia. The brothers were well-to-do for those days, and were men of character, education, and influence. Robert, a Master of Arts of the University of Dublin, founded the school which finally grew into Washington and Lee University, but was himself a resident of Beverly Manor. Archibald removed in 1747 from the bank of the Schulykill and settled on South River nearly opposite the mouth of Irish Creek. His son, William, born on the Schulykill, settled about 1775 at the mouth of woods Creek, and there opened the store which he seems to have conducted until his death in 1797. He also established the first school to be taught within the present confines of Lexington, making one of his own man-servants the teacher. As a captain of ranger, "Old Arsbel" had a share in the Big Sandy expedition of 1757. Under orders from the governor of the colony, Andrew Lewis led an expedition against the Indian towns on the Scioto, but did not cross the Ohio, and his men suffered terrible hardships from inclement weather and inadequate ratios. A daughter of William Alexander married Edward Graham of the faculty of Liberty Hall Academy, and another married Samuel L. Campbell, the first resident physician of Rockbridge. Archibald, still another of the eight Children was born in a house of squared logs on the family homestead on South River. His school days began in the log structure his father had built on Woods creek,. and were continued at Liberty Hall. Coming under the influence of the Great Revival of 1739, he resolved to become a Presbyterian minister, and was licensed in 1791. For several years he was engaged in itinerant work, and thereby acquired a remarkable facility in offhand speaking. With a brief intermission he was president of Hampden-Sidney College from 1796 until 1807, and then became pastor of Pine Street Church, Philadelphia. In 1812, he was make first professor in the Princeton Theological Seminary of New Jersey. The title of Doctor of Divinity had already been conferred upon him by the College of New Jersey. The school had just been opened and Doctor Alexander had taken a very active part in its establishment. He remained at Princeton until his death, October 22, 1851, at the age of seventy-nine. Like his father he was short and compact in stature, and he had brown hair and hazel eyes. His memory was remarkable, and he was a delightful companion. As a pulpit orator he was unrivaled. As a writer on theological subjects he was quite prolific, his principal works being these; "A life of John Knox," The Way of Salvation," "A History of the Israelitish Nation," "An Outline of Moral Science," "A Brief Outline of the Evidences of the Christian Religion," "The canon of the Old and New Testaments Ascertained," "Biographical Sketches of the Founder and Principal Alumni of the Log College," "A Selection of Hymns," "Practical Sermons." In 1802 Doctor Alexander was married to Janetta, a daughter of James Waddell, a blind minister who lived some years in Augusta, and whose eloquence was highly extolled by William Wirt. His sons, Joseph A. and James W. were also eminent as minister, writers, and teacher of Theology. The former was an eloquent orator and remarkable linguist. The latter was at the time of his death in 1859 pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in the city of New York. Source: A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia by Oren F. Morton, published in 1920. Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997 ************************************************************************************** DR. JOHN MCCLURE ALEXANDER- deceased- son of James and Nancy (McClure) Alexander, natives of Rockbridge county, was born in this county, April 27, 1822, and died here July 2, 1867. In this county, April 25, 1850, he married Ann Eliza Gibson, who was born here, September 25, 1831. Her parents were born in this county, John and Grace Mc. (Taylor) Gibson. The birth and death record of the children of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander is: Grace A., born February 1, 1851, and James W., March 7, 1853, live in Rockbridge county; Nannie B. born October 25, 1854, died June 8, 1859; M. Bruce, born March 25, 1857, lives in South Carolina; Sallie A., born June 3, 1859, died October 22, 1862; J. Gibson born May 26, 1861, lives at home; Samuel T., born June 27, 1863, died October 26th following; Sidney Mc., born January 15, 1865, died September 4th following; H. Herald, born December 10 1866, at home. The home farm contains 400 acres of good land, and lies on the Lexington and Staunton pike, in South River district. The family postoffice address is Fairfield, Rockbridge county, Virginia. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by Angela M. Ruley, ********************************************************************** T. F. AMOLE- was born at Chapel Hill, in Rockbridge county, July 4, 1844. He was a son of Henry Amole, who was born in Pennsylvania, September 9, 1795 and in 1978 accompanied his father to Rockbridge county, where the elder Amole engaged in the manufacture of wheat fans, the first made in this part of the country. Henry Amole married Sallie Holmes, and they passed long and useful lives in this county. Henry Amole died August 5, 1875, aged eighty years, and his widow survived him till the 3d of May, 1883, dying at the age of seventy-seven. T. F. Amole enlisted in Company I, 4th Virginia Infantry, August 19, 1862, and was twice wounded in the service, at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, and at Monocacy, July 9, 1864, where he was made prisoner of war, and kept two months in the hospital at Baltimore. At Liberty Hill, Rockbridge county, June 17, 1868, Rev. Andrew Hart joined in wedlock T. F. Amole and Mary S. Wilson, and in the home their marriage consecrated are seven children, born: Howard W., December 2, 1871; Henry Calvin, September 7, 1873; Mary Ruby, April 12, 1875; Willie Franklin, April 9, 1877; Albert Sidney, September 8, 1879; Kenney Brown, July 3, 1881; Emmet Ruff, September 25, 1883. The wife of Mr. Amole was born in Augusta county, Virginia, July 13, 1843, and was fifteen years of age when her parents, William J. and Patience K. Wilson made their home in Rockbridge county. Her father died August 3, 1870, aged sixty-three years. T. F. Amole owns and cultivates 200 acres of land on the waters of North river, and since the war has devoted much of his time to the profession of teaching. His postoffice address is Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by Angela M. Ruley, ********************************************************************** ANDERSON - Francis T. Anderson was unrelated to the Anderson connection of Rockbridge. He was a son of Colonel Thomas Anderson of Botetourt, and was born in 1808 at Walnut Hill, the family homestead. His mother, Mary A. Alexander, was a sister to Doctor Archibald Alexander, of Princeton. The son was educated at Washington College and was admitted to the Bar in 1830. He practiced the legal profession with great success, was many years a member of the Supreme Court of Appeals, and upon his death in 1887, the Bar of the State and the Supreme Court remembered him with eulogistic resolutions. Mr. Anderson was a leader of the Whig party of Virginia, a rector of Washington and Lee University, and a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church. He removed from Botetourt to Lexington, but lived some years on his large estate of Glenwood, his home then being near Natural Bridge. He was a brother of General Joseph R. Anderson and Colonel John T. Anderson of the confederate army. His children who grew to adult age are Anna A., wife of William F. Junkin; Mary E., wife of Alexander Bruce, of Halifax county; Frances M., of Washington, D. C.; Josephine A., wife of William B. Poindexter; William A., Isabella G., wife of William B. Bruce; and Francis T., whose wife is Rosa Bruce, of Halifax county. William A. Anderson, son of Francis T., Sr., was born May 11, 1842, and is the senior member of the Rockbridge bar. He has been Attorney General for his state and has twice represented his county in the Assembly. Major Anderson, who was made a cripple for life at First Manassas, is a Virginia gentleman of the old school and his courtesy is unfailing. He has been twice married; first to Ellen G., daughter of General Joseph R. Anderson, and second, to Mary L. Blair. His children are Ruth R., Anna A., William D. A., Judith N., and Ellen G. Besides being active in his chosen profession, Major Anderson has been a leader in the industrial development of Rockbridge. Source: A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia by Oren F. Morton, published in 1920. Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997 ************************************************************************************** JUDGE FRANCIS T. ANDERSON- son of Colonel William Anderson of Botetourt county, Virginia and Anne (Thomas) Anderson of Frederick, Maryland, was born and reared in Botetourt county. At the age of sixteen he was matriculated with an older brother as a student of Washington College, graduating at nineteen with distinction. He then returned to his parental roof and took the management of his father's farm for two years, in the meantime reading law without the advantage of an instructor. At the age of twenty-one he was admitted to the Botetourt county bar, which was at the time distinguished for his ability, being attended by such eminent lawyers as General Briscoe G. Baldwin, afterward elevated to the supreme court of appeals; General Edward Watts, Edward Johnston, afterward judge of the circuit court; Henry B. Miller, Colonel John T. Anderson, James L. Woodville, Thompson Crutchfield, attorney for the commonwealth in the circuit court; S. S. Baxter, Alexander P. Eskridge, who succeeded Crutchfield as commonwealth attorney; and occasionally by the Hon. W. B. Preston. Young Anderson bravely entered the arena of this formidable, but generous and elevated rivalry for professional honors, and had soon a remunerative practice. About 1852 he thought necessary he should take charge of and personally superintend a property which he held in Rockbridge county, to which he removed and retired from the practice of law, although he had overcome so many obstacles and was now in the zenith of professional success. At time when the commonwealth needed the ablest and wisest counselors, he was chosen by the citizens of Rockbridge to represent them in the legislature for a term of two years. Owing to impaired health, he declined a re-election for the succeeding term, but in the spring of 1865 he was again elected. By the first legislature under the present constitution, he was elected a judge of the supreme court of appeals of the State for the term of twelve years from January 1, 1871, but was inducted into office soon after the election and as provided by law served from that time until the end of the term, a period of nearly thirteen years. The duties and labors of the court were arduous and important. Numerous and various transactions during the war, involving intricate and embarrassing questions which grew out of that great struggle, had to be settled and adjusted by the court, and in the decisions of which there were no precedents or guide. In those services Judge Anderson acted a prominent part as may be seen in the reports of the decisions of the court. In his course on the bench he earned for himself the meed of ability, firmness and independence with which he maintained his honest convictions. F. T. Anderson, jr., for whom the above sketch is compiled, is a son of Judge Anderson, and resides with him, assisting in the management of the estate at Glenwood, Rockbridge county, Virginia. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by Angela M. Ruley, ********************************************************************** HON. WILLIAM A. ANDERSON- born in Botetourt county, Virginia, May 11, 1842, is a son of Judge Francis T. Anderson, who was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, and Mary Ann (Alexander) Anderson, born in this county. The parents of Mary Ann Alexander were Andrew and Anne (Aylette) Alexander. Her grandfather was a native of Rockbridge county, and her grandmother was born in King William county. In the war between the States, William A. Anderson was one of the "Liberty Hall Volunteers," Company I, 4th Virginia Infantry. The command was part of the gallant "Stonewall Brigade," and the subject of this sketch served until disabled by wounds. His profession is law, and he is now a member of the Virginia legislature, term 1883-4. His wife is Maza Blair, daughter of William B. and Judith (Nicoll) Blair, and she was born in the District of Columbia, May 17, 1849. The marriage of William A. Anderson and Maza Blair Anderson was solemnized in Lexington, Rockbridge county, August 9, 1875, and their children are three daughters, and one son, born: Ruth Floyd, July 20, 1876; Anna Aylette, December 30, 1878; William Dandridge Alexander, January 6, 1881; Judith Nicoll, August 4, 1883. Mr. Anderson's residence and postoffice address is Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by Angela M. Ruley, ********************************************************************** WILLIAM FRANKLIN ANDERSON- is a native of Cumberland county, Virginia, born November 25, 1849. Meredith Anderson, his father, was a soldier of the South in the war between the States, and killed at Kernstown in 1862. The mother of William F., whose maiden name was Mary Jane Whorley, came to Rockbridge county in 1872, and is still living here. In Augusta county, Virginia, September 19, 1872, William F. Anderson and Helen W. Whitten were married, and the children of their union are two sons and one daughter: William I., born June 30, 1873; Luther Franklin, May 24, 1875; Maude Alice, May 12, 1877. The wife of Mr. Anderson was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah J. (Hopkins) Whitton, and was born in Fluvanna county, in Lexington, where he still resides, following the trade of carpenter, and keeping a boarding house and feed stable. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by Angela M. Ruley, ********************************************************************** HENRY ARMENTROUT- is one of the substantial farming residents of Rockbridge county, owning in Buffalo district the farm that was his father's before him, and giving his attention to its cultivation. Jacob and Nancy (Hickman) Armentrout were his parents, and both lie buried on the home farm. His father was drowned February 27, 1863, and his mother died August 26, 1858. Henry Armentrout was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, August 20, 1832, and in this county, on the 15th of May 1860, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Armentrout. William and Mary (Randall) Armentrout were the parents of Elizabeth Armentrout, and she was born in Rockbridge county, June 20, 1837. Henry Armentrout served in the war between the States as a member of the 1st Virginia Cavalry. His brother John was in the same regiment until his death in 1863. The parents of Mrs. Armentrout are no longer living. Collierstown, Rockbridge county, Virginia, is Henry Armentrout's postoffice. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411-412. Transcribed and submitted by Angela M. Ruley, **********************************************************************