HON. JOSEPH ADDISON WADDELL,
Born in Staunton, Virginia, on March 19, 1823, is a son of Dr. Addison
Waddell and Catherine Waddell, nee Boys. His father, a son of
Rev. James Waddell, D. D., known as the "Blind Preacher of Virginia,"
was born near Gordonsville in 1785, studied medicine in Philadelphia,
settled in Staunton in 1809, and died in 1855. His mother, born in
Staunton in 1790, died in 1846, was a daughter of John Boys, and a
granddaughter of Commodore Nathan Boys, commander in the Pennsylvania
navy during the Revolutionary war. His wife, whom he married
at Staunton on February 17, 1853, and who was born at Lexington,
Virginia, was Virginia, daughter of Capt. Henry McClung, who commanded
an artillery company from Rockbridge in the war of 1812.
Her mother was Elizabeth Alexander, of the Rockbridge family of that
name.
Joseph Addison Waddell received his education at Staunton Academy,
Washington College (Lexington), and the University of Virginia. He
studied law with Judge L. P. Thompson of Staunton, and was called to
the Bar in 1844, and practiced in Staunton until November, 1848.
For the next twelve years he was editor of the Staunton Spectator. In
1860, he retired from that position, and was appointed commissioner in
chancery for the circuit court for Augusta county. During the war
1861-5 he was in the service of the Confederate States, in the quartermaster's
department. In the fall of 1865 he was elected by the people
of Augusta county a member of the House of Delegates, and served in
the Legislature two years. He was a delegate from Augusta county in
the convention that framed the present State constitution, and later
was elected State senator, serving two years. He was next appointed clerk
of the Supreme Court of Appeals, at Staunton, which office he filled
until removed by the Readjuster (or Republican) party. Since then he
has been employed as commissioner of the county and circuit courts of
Augusta county. Mr. Waddell is author of the admirable work entitled
"Annals of Augusta County." He is a member of the First Presbyterian
church, Staunton.
