University of Virginia Library

HALIFAX COUNTY.

SAMUEL L. ADAMS.

The subject of this sketch was born in Halifax county, Virginia,
on October 31, 1863, and his home has always been in the county.
His father, John R. Adams, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia,
was in the Confederate States Army during the late war, and died on
May 28, 1887, aged sixty-four years. His mother, whose maiden
name was Mary A. Stanford, died on July 4, 1874, aged forty-eight
years. On January 12, 1887, he married S. Alice Mitchell, and their
son, John R., was born on January 17, 1888. Mrs. Adams was born
in Halifax county, and her parents are still residents of this county,
Capt. John A. Mitchell and Mary F. (Pringle) Mitchell.

Among the paternal ancestors of Mr. Adams may be named the
Adamses of Boston, and the Tuckers of Virginia, who figured conspicuously
in colonial days. His mother's people, the Stanfords of
North Carolina, were also public men of national reputation, his
great grandfather, Richard Stanford, being elected to the United
States Congress in 1796, and was elected continuously for twenty years
He died in 1816 during the session of Congress, and his remains were
interred in the Congressional Cemetery, and a tall marble shaft at
present marks the spot. Gen. Stephen Moore, of Revolutionary fame,
of the same State, was Mr. Adam's mother's great grandfather. The
ancestral coat-of-arms of Mr. Adam's family bears the inscription of
"Prima" as will be seen on next page.

Mrs. Adam's ancestors were the Jeffersons, Baskervilles and many
others of the old Virginian families, of like reputation.

Mr. Adams is engaged in the insurance business and his address at
present is South Boston, Virginia.

JUDGE EDWARD W. ARMISTEAD

Was born in Halifax county, Virginia, in May, 1855. His father is William
H. Armistead, now of Halifax county, born in Petersburg, Virginia.
His mother, who was Miss Sarah Henry before marriage, is the granddaughter
of Patrick Henry. The early education of Judge Armistead
was received at Hampden-Sidney College. In 1876 he entered the Washington
and Lee University, and was graduated from the Law Course
there in 1878. Several years afterward he entered into practice in South
Boston, in which he has continued to the present date. He also holds
at the present time the office of notary public. From 1881 to 1885 he
was judge of Halifax county court.

HENRY EASLEY

Is the son of Henry Easley, M. D., who was born in Halifax county, Virginia,
was many years an esteemed physician of the county, and is now
deceased. His mother, Mrs. Ann R. L. Easley, is still living in this county.
He was born in Halifax county, December 15, 1847, and went to school
in the county, at Cluster Springs and at Halifax C. H. At the age of
seventeen years, 1864, he entered the Confederate States Army, Pogue's
Battalion of Light Artillery, with which he served till the surrender at
Appomattox C. H. He had two older brothers in service, Thomas and
Andrew, the latter severely wounded in the head.

In Halifax county, October 15, 1873, Henry Easley married Nannie P.
Owen. Their living children are: Irvie Owen, Annie Rebecca, Mamie,
Henry Owen, and Thomas Owen. They have buried one son, William
Preston, did May 29, 1887. Mrs. Easley was born in Halifax county,
the daughter of Thomas E. Owen, who was born in this county, and
is now sw ad. Her mother, now deceased, was Mary B. Baxley, born
in Half county.

After the war Mr. Easley engaged in mercantile business at Black
Walnut and at South Boston for about ten years. He then, with some
others, formed the Planters and Merchants Bank, of South Boston, with
which he has ever since been connected, and of which he is now cashier.
He served as magistrate at Black Walnut twelve months during his
residence there.

JOHN WATKINS EASLEY

Was born in Halifax county, on October 22, 1849, the son of Dr. Henry
and Ann L. R. Easley. (See preceding sketch for further family record.)
He has been twice married, his first wife Sallie Irvin Owen, who died
August 2, 1881, leaving him one daughter, Nannie Preston. He married
secondly, January 15, 1885, Jennie C. Owen, and they have two
children, John W. and Lizzie O. Mr. Easley was educated in the schools
of Halifax county, and entered on a business life at the age of eighteen
years, in the mercantile house of J. S. Easley, Halifax C. H. Two years
later he moved to South Boston, where he has since continued in the
same business, adding to it an extensive tobacco business. He is a
director in the Planters and Merchants Bank, of South Boston, a
member of the city council, and city treasurer.

MAJOR HENRY A. EDMONDSON

Is descended from families seated in Halifax county in the eighteenth
century. He was born in this county, on October 20, 1833, the son of
Richard Edmondson, who was born in this county, and who died in
November, 1857, aged 74 years. His mother, Miss Susan Howell Chastain,
daughter of Rene Chastain, a descendant of the Huguenots, is still
living at Halifax C. H. His wife was born in Halifax county, Sallie A.,
daughter of Nathaniel H. Poindexter, and they were married at Halifax
C. H., on May 21, 1857. Their children were born in the order named:
Mary J., Susan H., Francis W., Anna H., Robert H., Rosa L., Lula H.,
Lizzie A., Willie L., Sallie A., Frank, Mary, Susan, Anna and Rosa are
married; one son, Henry A., died in August, 1865, aged seven years.
Mrs. Edmondson's father was born in Halifax county, and died in 1859,
aged fifty-one years. Her mother, who was Miss Mary Johnson before
marriage, died in 1883, aged seventy-two years.

Mr. Edmondson received his education in the schools of Halifax
county. From 1852 to 1857 he clerked for Estes & Avery, general
store. In April, 1861, he entered the Confederate States Army, in
Company A. Montague's Battalion, and served till the close of the war,
twice slightly wounded. He was promoted first lieutenant; later was
commissioned major of the 53d Virginia Infantry, a regiment of

Pickett's division. Among the battles in which he took part were:
Bethel, Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, second Manassas, Fredericksburg,
Gettysburg, those around Petersburg, Sailors Creek, Five Forks.

After the war, Major Edmondson returned to Halifax county, where
he engaged in farming until, in 1869, he was elected high sheriff of the
county, which office he filled until 1887. He has also dealt extensively
in tobacco since 1872, is owner of the Edmondson Warehouse and
interested in the Flag Warehouse, both at South Boston; is also a
partner in the general store of Edmondson & Shepherd, South Boston.

ALEXANDER R. GREEN

Was born at Halifax C. H., on December 8, 1841, the son of Thomas
Jefferson Green, who was born in Halifax county, and who died on July
20, 1871, aged seventy-four years. His mother was Frances Keeling
Burton, born in Granville county, North Carolina, died May 20, 1866,
aged sixty-five years. At Halifax C. H., October 31, 1871, he married
Lizzie R. Wauhop, and their children are four, born: Sallie R., May 29,
1873; Thomas J., May 4, 1876; Fannie B., January 5, 1879 (died June
6th following); Lizzie A., June 3, 1887. Mrs. Green was born at Memphis,
Tennessee, the daughter of William and Sarah F. (Ragland)
Wauhop. Her father died at Memphis in 1848; her mother died on
October 3, 1874, aged fifty-four years.

Mr. Green was raised at Halifax C. H., attending school there, and
completing his education in 1859. He was one of five brothers who
served through the late war in the Confederate States Army. His service
was in Company A, 53d Virginia Infantry, Armistead's Brigade,
Pickett's Division. In Pickett's grand charge at Gettysburg, he was
shot through the right breast, by a minie-ball, and was disabled by the
wound for nine months, returning then to his regiment and serving till
the close of the war. He took part in battles of: Bethel, Seven Pines,
Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Drurys Bluff, Howlett
Farm, Five Forks, Fort Harrison and Sailors Creek. His brother,
Robert B., was wounded in service. The other brothers in service
were: Thomas J., Nathaniel T. and William L. After the war Mr.
Green clerked in store at Halifax C. H. until August, 1871, when he
was appointed commissioner in chancery for county and circuit courts,
which office he has continued to hold up to date. On July 1, 1879, he
was elected treasurer of the county, and is still serving, having been
elected for three consecutive terms of four years each.

THOMAS R. JORDAN.

Thomas R., son of John and Susan R. (Chambers) Jordan, was born
in Halifax county. His parents were also natives of this county and
residents of same through life. His father died in 1871, his mother died
in 1887. His wife is Mary E., daughter of M. H. and A. M. Young. She
was born at Marengo, Alabama. Their marriage was solemnized on
New Years Day, 1876, by Rev. J. B. Shearer, and their children are two
daughters, Nora and Lizzie, and four sons, Hamet, Hurt, Hugo and
Herman. The father of Mrs. Jordan was killed by a runaway slave in
1863. Her mother is living now in Halifax county, Virginia. Thomas
R. Jordan served through the late war in the Confederate States Army,
three years in Company C, 3d Virginia Cavalry, one year in Poage's
Artillery Battalion. He was taken prisoner in the advance on Gettysburg,
and held a time in Washington, at the Old Capitol. On July 1,
1879, he was elected clerk of the Halifax county court, and he is still
filling that office.

WALTER L. MOON.

Henry Moon, born in Charlotte county, Virginia, now deceased, and
Jemima Bailey, also now deceased, were the parents of Walter L. Moon,
who was born in Halifax county, Virginia, on January 3, 1843. He has
been twice married, Mary H. Russell, of Halifax county, becoming his
wife in March, 1865, and dying in 1868, leaving him two children, Helen
V. and H. R. He married secondly in 1872, Eliza C. Carrington, and
their children are: Elizabeth, Walter, Annie, Mollie and Edward. In
April, 1861, Mr. Moon entered the Confederate States Army, in Company
A, 53d Virginia Infantry, private, promoted sergeant. In the second
year of the war he went to the Virginia Military Institute, where
he remained until early in 1864, when he again entered service in Company
G, 6th Virginia Cavalry. In the battle of the Wilderness, May,
1864, he received a shell wound, taking off his right arm, just below the
elbow. He was three weeks in Chimborazo hospital, Richmond, then
returned home. He engaged in farming for several years after the close
of the war, then was three years in the tobacco warehouse business at
South Boston until, in July, 1887, he was elected high sheriff of Halifax
county. In this office he is still serving.

JOSEPH STEBBINS

Was born June 14, 1850, in Petersburg, Virginia. He married July 24,
1872, Willie S. Fourqureau, of Halifax county, Virginia, the daughter
of Reuben D. and Mary B. Fourqureau. Their children are Joseph,

born November 5, 1874, and Laura May, born September 16, 1878.
When he was about a year old, Mr. Stebbins' parents removed to Richmond,
Virginia, where his boyhood was spent until he was fourteen
years of age. His first school was that of Miss Virginia Danforth. In
1859 he spent a session at the school at residence of Col. Thomas
Taylor in Goochland county, Virginia, later attended the classical
school of R. H. L. Tighe, in Richmond. As the war progressed, the
schools were broken up, and he had to go to work. He began as errand
boy in a store, and in 1864 came to Halifax county to take a position
in a country store at Black Walnut. In 1871 he was admitted to an
interest in the business, in 1872 removed to Turbeville, same county,
continuing the mercantile business, and in 1876 came to South Boston,
where he is now a member of the firm of Stebbins & Lawson, dealers in
general merchandise.

On his father's side, Mr. Stebbins is descended from an old Massachusetts
family, his lineage thus traced. Joseph Stebbins, born 1594,
sailed in the bark "Francis," from Ipswich, England, in 1634, with
wife and four children, one of the first settlers of Northampton, Massachusetts;
died December 14, 1671. i. John Stebbins, son of Rowland,
born 1626, married May 14, 1646, Mrs. Mary Munden; married
secondly, November 17, 1657, Abigail Bartlett, of Northampton; died
March 9, 1679. ii. John, son of John, born January 28, 1647, one of
the early settlers of Deerfield, Massachusetts, soldier under Captain
Lothrop, and the only man known to have come out unharmed from
the Bloody Brook massacre; had house burned and entire family
captured by Indians, February 29, 1704, married Dorothy Alexander,
of Boston; died December 19, 1724. iii. John, son of John ii., born
1685, married about 1714, Mary —, who died August 30, 1733,
married secondly August 25, 1735, Hannah Allen, captured by Indians
and redeemed 1704; died September 7, 1760. i. Joseph, son of John
iii., born October 20, 1718, selectman and in other town offices;
married Mary Stratton, of Northfield, who died July 7, 1797; he died
May 30, 1797. ii. Joseph, son of Joseph, born October 15, 1749,
second lieutenant in the company of minute men who marched on the
Lexington alarm, commissioned lieutenant in Capt. Hugh Maxwell's
company, May 26, 1775, was acting captain in Colonel Prescott's
regiment, at battle of Bunker Hill, commission as captain signed by
John Hancock, president of Continental Congress, July 5, 1775, served
through Revolutionary war, rising to rank of lieutenant-colonel,
married January 25, 1774, Lucy Frary, died December 15, 1816. iii.
Joseph, son of Joseph ii., born February 25, 1782, married December
3, 1805, Laura Hawks, who died November 26, 1825; he died August
18, 1827. iv. Joseph, son of Joseph iii., born May 12, 1811, removed

in 1837 to Petersburg, Virginia, married there, September 4, 1844,
Mary Elizabeth Grundy, about 1851 removed to Richmond. They
had six children, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining four
were named, Laura, Joseph (subject of this sketch), Henry and Arthur,
all of whom, except Joseph, who was then absent from home, together
with the parents, perished when their home was consumed by fire, on
February 21, 1865.

On his mother's side, Mr. Stebbins is descended from George Grundy
of Shipley Hall, Derbyshire, England, where he was born about 173-,
came to colonial Virginia, settling in Norfolk, married, about 176-,
Miss Sarah Lane, a noted belle of Edenton, North Carolina. His son
George, born in Norfolk, April 4, 1790, removed to Petersburg, there
married in July, 1815, Caroline Smith, one of the original members of
the "Petersburg Volunteers," a company commanded by Captain
McRae in the war of 1812, the heroic band that gave to Petersburg the
name of the "Cockade City," died at Petersburg, July 14, 1826. His
daughter, Mary Elizabeth, born in Petersburg, December 6, 1824,
married Joseph Stebbins, father of subject of this sketch, September 4,
1844, perished with him as above recorded.

EDGAR HOPSON VAUGHAN,

Born at Paineville, Amelia county, Virginia, May 6, 1843, is the son of
Edwin A. Vaughan and Mary A. P. Haskins, both born in Amelia
county, honored residents there through life, and now deceased. His
mother died in 1872, his father in 1879. At Black Walnut, Virginia,
December 11, 1867, Rev. J. B. Shearer officiating clergyman, he married
Almira Traver. Their children are: Mary E., J. Edgar, Florence H.,
Herbert E., Ida T., and Blanche H. Mrs. Vaughan was born at New
Haven, Connecticut, and is the daughter of James and Mary A. (Chamberlam)
Traver, now of South Boston, Halifax county, Virginia.

Mr. Vaughan was educated at Prideville Academy and Edgewood
Seminary, Amelia county. He entered the Confederate Army as a private
in Company G, 6th Virginia Cavalry, in August, 1861, and was
promoted sergeant, and was in all the principal battles in Jackson's
Valley campaign, and also Brandy Station, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor,
Five Forks and Appomattox. After the war he was engaged in a mercantile
business at South Boston, until elected, July 1, 1879, clerk of
Halifax county court, which office he is still ably filling.