University of Virginia Library

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY.

ROBERT BLAIR BERKELEY

Was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia, on October 13, 1842, the
son of Peyton Randolph Berkeley and Frances Ann Banister Little. As
the family names indicate, he is connected with many of the families
who have been honorably identified with the annals of Virginia, and is,
indeed, a lineal descendant from Sir William Berkeley (see Volume 1 of
this work). His father, born in Richmond, Virginia, in September,
1804, died in May, 1870. His mother, born in Clarke county, Virginia,
died in September, 1843. During the late war, his father, his elder
brother and himself, constituting the entire family, were in service. The
father was captain of Company K, 3d Virginia Cavalry (Stuart's), and
the subject of this sketch was sergeant in the same company. The
brother, W. R. Berkeley, was lieutenant-colonel of the 21st Virginia
Infantry.

In Prince Edward county, June 12, 1867, Rev. R. L. Dabney, D. D.,
officiating clergyman, Robert Blair Berkeley married Pattie Maria
Price. Their daughter, Fannie Little, born July 27, 1868, died August
30, 1869. Mrs. Berkeley was born in Prince Edward county, as was
her father, Charles Allen Price. Her mother, who was Miss Fannie Priscilla
Wilson, was born in Cumberland County, Virginia. Mr. Berkeley
has been twice married, his first wife, Alice M. Scott, whom he wedded on
April 29, 1863, and who lived but a few months. He was educated at
Hampden-Sidney College; was graduated in law at the University of
Virginia in June, 1871, was in practice in Richmond, 1872-7, then removed
to Farmville, and since that date has been in practice in Prince
Edward and adjoining counties. In May, 1887, he was elected Commonwealth
attorney for Prince Edward county for the term of four years,
and is still serving.

CAPT. Z. A. BLANTON

Was born in Cumberland county, Virginia, on August 1, 1833. He is
the son of Elisha Blanton, who was born in Cumberland county, and
who died in February, 1853, aged fifty-three years. His mother was
Elizabeth A. Sanders, died in 1875, aged seventy-seven years. His wife
is Ida F., daughter of W. T. Rice, of Farmville, who married Mary V.
Williams. Mrs. Blanton was born in Farmville, and they were married
there, on December 9, 1868. Their children are one daughter, Lizzie S.,
and two sons, William B. and Samuel E. In April, 1861, Mr. Blanton
entered the Confederate States Army, sergeant Company F, 18th Virginia
Infantry. He received promotion to first lieutenant, then captain,

and was in command of his company when severely wounded and
captured in the third day's fighting at Gettysburg. He was held a
prisoner at Baltimore one month, then ten months at Johnson's
Island, in Lake Erie. After exchange he was placed on the retired list
and did local duty at Farmville a time, then was appointed clerk in the
Farmer's Bank, at Farmville. In this position he was serving when
the war ended, and at the time of Lee's surrender he took charge of the
bank funds, escaped with them, and kept them safely until he was
enabled, in due time, to restore them to the bank again. While in
active service he took part in battles of: First Manassas, Williamsburg,
Seven Pines, Gaines Mills, Malvern Hill, Frazier's Farm, the seven
days fighting around Richmond, Petersburg, Gettysburg, and others.
Both before and since the war, Mr. Blanton has been extensively
engaged in a tobacco business, in which he still continues. He also
carried on a mercantile business for six years after the war.

COL. JOHN PATERSON FITZGERALD.

The subject of this sketch was born at Nottoway C. H., Virginia, on
May 15, 1837, the son of George and Catherine (Campbell) Fitzgerald.
His father died in 1863, and his mother died in 1839. Both were born
in Nottoway county, and were of families honorably identified with its
annals. Francis Fitzgerald, father of George, and for fifty years clerk
of Nottoway county, was the son of Captain William Fitzgerald, who
served with that rank in the Revolutionary war, and took part in the
battle of Guilford C. H. Catherine, mother of Colonel Fitzgerald, was
the daughter of Dr. A. A. Campbell, who was a surgeon in the war of
1812, and who represented Nottoway county many years in the legislature
and senate of Virginia. The wife of Colonel Fitzgerald, whom he
married in Prince Edward county, December 23, 1863, Rev. R. L. Dabney,
D. D., uniting them, is also of eminent Virginian families. She was
born in Prince Edward county, Florida Frances, daughter of William
Cabell Flourney. Her father, born in 1812, died in 1861, was the
grandson of William Cabell of Nelson county. Her mother is Martha
M. Venable, born in 1816, living now at Farmville.

Colonel Fitzgerald was educated at Hampden-Sidney college, and
was graduated there in June, 1857, studied law at the University of
Virginia, 1857-8, and was licensed to practice law on July 30, 1858.
He located in Prince Edward county in October, 1858, and was in
practice there when war was inaugurated. He entered service as
first lieutenant of Company I, 23d Virginia Infantry; was promoted
captain July 25, 1861; major, June 10, 1863; lieutenant-colonel, same
regiment, November 27, 1863. His service was from May, 1861, to the
surrender, and under Gens. Garnett and H. R. Jackson in Northwest

Virginia, "Stonewall" Jackson in the Valley. He was wounded at
Sharpsburg, and captured at Spottsylvania C. H. Taken a prisoner
to Fort Delaware, he was one of the fifty field officers sent thence to
Charleston, South Carolina, in 1864, to be put under fire of the Confederate
guns; was exchanged at Charleston.

After the war, Colonel Fitzgerald resumed his practice in Prince
Edward county. Since October, 1885, he has been treasurer of the
Union Theological Seminary at Farmville and of Hampden-Sidney
college. He takes great interest in secret societies; is a Mason, Knight
of Honor, and Royal Arcanum. In 1883-4 was representative of Virginia
Grand Lodge K. of H. to Supreme Lodge; and since then has been
a member of the committee of Appeals and Grievances of the Supreme
Lodge, and chairman of committee for the last three years.

HON. PHILIP W. MCKINNEY

Was born in Buckingham county, Va., on March 17, 1832. His
parents were Virginians, Charles McKinney, born in Charlotte county,
died in August, 1862, and Martha Guarrant, also now deceased. On
May 12, 1856, he married Nannie Christian, who died, leaving him one
son, Robert C. He married secondly, at Farmville, Virginia, December
23, 1884, Annie Lyle, and they have one child, Frankie Irving. The
early school days of Mr. McKinney were passed in Buckingham county,
followed by the course at Hampden-Sidney college, whence he was graduated
with honors. He pursued his law studies at Washington and
Lee University, and then entered on the practice of law in Prince
Edward and adjoining counties.

In April, 1861, he entered the Confederate States Army, captain of
Company K, 4th Virginia Cavalry, and was with that regiment in all
its gallant service until incapacitated for the field by wound received in
1863 at Brandy Station. After that he performed local duty at Danville
for a year. In 1864 he was relieved from military duty by Col.
George C. Cabell, and took his seat as a member of the General Assembly
of Virginia, to which position he had been elected from Buckingham
county in 1858, and where he served till the close of the war.

Since that time he has been one of the most eminent members of the
Bar in Virginia, with his home at Farmville, his practice mainly in
Prince Edward county. He has filled the office of prosecuting attorney
several terms, has been three times Presidential elector on the Democratic
ticket for the Fourth District, was elector at large in 1884; in
1881 was the Democratic nominee for attorney-general, and in 1885
was a candidate for nomination for Governor of Virginia, receiving,
among the several candidates, the next highest vote to that by which
Governor Lee was nominated.

JOHN W. NASH, M. D.,

Is the son of Judge John W. Nash of Powhatan county, Virginia, who
died in 1860. His mother, also now deceased, was Elizabeth Hatcher.
Dr. Nash was born in Amelia county, Virginia, on August 29, 1826.
His early school days were passed in Powhatan county, after which he
attended the Boonville Academy, Missouri. He then took the medical
course of Jefferson College, whence he was graduated in the spring of
1848. He practiced at Cumberland C. H., then at Cartersville, Virginia,
and in 1874 came to Farmville, where he has been in practice ever
since. At Richmond, Virginia, on May 20, 1852, he married Lydia,
daughter of Francis and Sarah (Cowles) Smith, formerly of Richmond,
both now deceased. The record of the children of Dr. and Mrs. Nash is:
William, now deceased; Frank, now a surgeon, U. S. N.; John, now
deceased, Sarah E., now the wife of Dr. Irving of Farmville.

HENRY C. PAULETT

Was born in Appomattox county, Virginia, on March 9, 1849, the son
of Richard S. Paulett, who was born in Prince Edward county, and is
living now in Farmville. His mother, who was Harriet P. Clark, died
on May 14, 1884. At Manson, North Carolina, December 23, 1873, he
married Emily F. Twitty, of Warren county, North Carolina. Their
children are three daughters, one son, Essie D., Hattie W., May T. and
R. Landon. Mrs. Paulett is the daughter of Thomas T. and Evylin
(Fitts) Twitty, both born in Warren county, North Carolina, and now
deceased. Her father died on April 4, 1888. Mr. Paulett was too
young for regular field service during the late war, but served on local
duty, having one brother, S. W. Paulett, in regular service. He attended
Southside Institute and other schools at Farmville until about 1863.
From that time until 1869, with slight intervals, was merchandising at
Farmville. In 1869 went to Randolph-Macon College and was graduated
in several of the schools of that institution. In 1873 he entered
the Virginia Conference, and in 1878 located in Farmville, where he
has ever since been engaged in the business of commission merchant,
which he still continues.

SAMUEL W. PAULETT,

Son of R. S. and H. P. (Clark) Paulett, was born at Farmville, on
October 24, 1846. His school days were spent at Farmville, and in the
Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York. He entered the
Confederate States Army in July, 1861, in Company F, 18th Virginia
Infantry, regimental marker. He was three times wounded in service,

at Second Bull Run, in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg, and at Sailors
Creek, April 6, 1865. He was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, also, and
was held six months, at Fort Delaware and at Point Lookout. From the
latter prison he escaped, and rejoined his regiment, serving with it until
the close of the war. Among the battles in which he took part are:
Williamsburg, the seven days fighting around Richmond, second Bull
Run, Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chester Station (May
16th), Hamilton Crossing, second Gaines Mills, Chester again (June
16th), Hatchers Run, Sailors Creek.

After the war, Mr. Paulett went into the tobacco business, in which he
continued six years, was then four years engaged in merchandising, then
returned to the tobacco business having an insurance business connected
with it, in which he still continues. He is connected with his father in
the tobacco business, junior member of the firm of R. S. Paulett &Son.
He was elected captain of the Farmville Guards, April 23, 1880, and has
been in command of the company, except for a short time, ever since.
For seven years he has been one of the councilmen of Farmville, and he is
also chief of the fire department. Mr. Paulett has been twice married,
his first wife Augusta E. Wiltse, who died December 1, 1875, leaving
him one son, Samuel W., jr. He married secondly, on August 10, 1879,
Jennie B. Gray, of Prince Edward county. They have three sons, Lewis,
Vernon and Gordon, and have buried one, their first-born, Percy C.

JUDGE ASA D. WATKINS.

The Watkins family, of French-English descent, was founded in Virginia
by Thomas Watkins, of Chickahominy, one of two brothers who
came to America in colonial days, one settling in Virginia, the other in
Alabama. From Thomas Watkins descended Frank Watkins, of Prince
Edward county, long clerk of its courts, great grandfather of Asa D.
His grandfather was Captain H. E. Watkins, of Prince Edward county,
who commanded its troops in the war of 1812. His father was the late
Judge F. N. Watkins, born in Prince Edward county, judge of its courts
for fourteen years, member of the legislature for Prince Edward and
Appomattox counties, sessions of 1866-7-8-9-70, died at age of
seventy-three years. The mother of Asa D., still living in Farmville,
was Martha A. Scott before marriage.

Asa D. was born in Prince Edward county, on June 5, 1856. His
earliest studies were received at home, then he attended school in Farmville
a time, then was sent to Hampden-Sidney college. He studied
law with his father and attended law lectures at the University of Virginia,
under Professor Minor. In 1883 he began practice in Prince
Edward and adjoining counties. Since February, 1886, he has been

judge of county court. In October, 1885, he was made secretary and
treasurer of the State Female Normal School of Virginia, located at
Farmville, which offices he still worthily fills.

Judge Watkins married at Farmville, September 2, 1886, Nannie E.
Forbes, of Buckingham county, Virginia. Their son, Willie F., was
born on June 17, 1887. Mrs. Watkins is the daughter of W. W. Forbes,
who was born in Buckingham county, still an honored resident there,
now seventy-four years of age. Her mother, who was Amonette Cobb,
died at the age of twenty-five years.