JOHN D. COSBY.
The subject of this sketch was born in Buckingham county, Virginia
on the 8th of November, 1840. He is a son of Rev. Lewis F. Cosby
whose family record is in the sketch following this one. In April, 1861
he joined Company K, 37th Virginia Infantry, C. S. A., and was one o
the first men from Washington county to mount the train that was to
carry the volunteers to the front. In August, 1861, he was disabled by
typhoid fever, at Garretts Ford, on Cheat river, Virginia, at the time
General Garnett was killed. Later he served two years in the 1st Virginia
Cavalry, and was in active service through the war, except when
disabled by sickness. On April 9, 1865, his command was outside of
the lines, and not included in Lee's surrender, the men returning to
their homes.
In 1871 John D. Cosby was elected sheriff of Washington county for
three years, and subsequently was twice re-elected, serving twelve years
as sheriff after having served three years as deputy sheriff. At "Panacella,"
on the 15th of December, 1875, he was united in marriage to
Miss Sue M. Litchfield, by Rev. W. E. Cunningham. She was born on
the 20th of July, 1843, at Abingdon, and is the daughter of George V.
Litchfield, who died in Abingdon on February 5, 1874. Her mother
was Rachel D., daughter of John Mitchell, Esq., of Saltville and Abingdon,
Virginia. One child, Mary Connally Cosby, blesses this union.
"Panacella," the beautiful home of Mr. Cosby, overlooking the town
of Abingdon, was formerly the country seat of old Judge Johnston,
the father of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Beverly R. Johnston, and Gen.
Peter C. Johnston. Near the house is the old family cemetery, where
now repose the bodies of Judge Johnston and his estimable wife, Beverly
R. Johnston and Gen. Peter C. Johnston, the graves tenderly cared
for by their distinguished son and brother, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.
