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.
