NATHAN BROOKS PRICHARD.
The subject of this sketch was born in Petersburg, on the 29th day
of February, 1848. He is a son of William Irwin Prichard, who was
born in Greenville county, Virginia, and who died on April 30, 1883,
aged seventy-seven years. His mother is Mary Margaret Prichard, nee
Hammett, living in Petersburg. At Suffolk, Virginia, September 27,
1870, Rev. S. V. Easter officiating, Nathan Brooks Prichard and
Marion Blunt Riddick were wedded. They have three children living,
Marion McDonald, William Blunt, Nathan Riddick, and have buried
one daughter, Mary Claiborne. The father of Mrs. Prichard was the
Hon. Washington L. Riddick, who died in New Orleans, Louisiana, in
1872, aged forty-seven years. He was a Senator in the Virginia legislature
at the time of his death, and had been ably serving there for some
years previously. Her mother, whose maiden name was Frances
Marion Blunt, is now living at Charlotte, North Carolina, aged sixty-three
years.
Mr. Prichard went to school in Petersburg, until he entered the army,
at the age of 16 years, May 5, 1864. His first service was in the local
Petersburg troops, but in January, 1865, he volunteered for field
service, and was in S. Taylor Mortin's battery of artillery, Army of
Northern Virginia, from that time till the surrender at Appomattox C.
H. He was wounded in the desperate affair at Rives farm, near Petersburg,
June 9, 1864. After the war, he returned to Petersburg,
and in November, 1865, went to clerking for J. C. Riddle, then
owner of the Basin Mills, Petersburg. In January following he was
elected to a clerkship in office of the agency of the cotton mills, under David
Callender. This position he resigned in 1870 to accept clerkship with
Davis, Roper & Co., Petersburg, with which firm he remained until 1874.
In the latter year he went into business for himself, and for fifteen years
he has continued a partner in the firm of Allen & Prichard, wholesale
grocers. Since March, 1886, he has been a member of the building committee
of the Virginia Normal School building, he is vice-president of
the Chamber of Commerce of Petersburg, trustee of the Building Loan
Association, and vestryman of the St. Paul Church.
Robert W. Prichard, brother of Nathan B., was born in Petersburg,
on November 20, 1856. He attended the schools of Petersburg until
1872, when he began clerking for J. R. Cary, crockery business; in 1874,
went to clerking for J. B. Robertson, grocery, in 1879 went into the
grocery business for himself, and in 1887 changed to his present business,
housefurnishing store, as manager of the firm of Prichard & Co.
He was married in Petersburg, November 23, 1881, and has three
children: Robert W., jr., Herbert B. and Mattie B. His wife is Mattie
C., daughter of the late Governor Thomas and Isabella Bragg of North
Carolina, both now deceased. Mr. Prichard had four elder brothers in
the service, C. S. A., during the late war: William B., Chas. E., severely
wounded; John H. and Nathan B., slightly wounded. He is a vestryman
in Grace P. E. Church.
