CHARLES EVANS WINGO,
Born, reared and educated in the county of Amelia, Virginia, came to
Richmond in 1859, and engaged in business as clerk in the wholesale
grocery house of Eggleston & Fitzgerald; then doing a large business
on 14th street. He remained with this firm one year, when he was
offered a situation with Samuel M. Price & Co., a large retail dry goods
house, doing business on Main street, as entry clerk and cashier, which
he accepted. In 1861, as soon as the news of the battle of Bull Run
reached Richmond, he surrendered his situation, and enlisted as a private
in the First Company of Richmond Howitzers, Col. John C. Shields
commanding, stationed at Centreville, Virginia. He remained with
this company until severely wounded in the battle of Sharpsburg, September
17, 1862, his wounds disabling him for further field service.
He was placed on the retired list of the C. S. army, but was later assigned
to duty as enrolling officer of the county of Amelia. He joined
General Lee's army on the retreat, and surrendered with it at Appomattox.
He has an only brother who was in service, and also surrendered
at Appomattox.
After the close of the war, Mr. Wingo returned to Richmond, and engaged
in the mercantile business, first with John C. Miller & Co., dry
goods, afterwards with Gardner & Carlton, boots and shoes. In 1870
he founded the business in which he is senior partner, the firm of Wingo,
Ellett & Crump, wholesale boot and shoes.
Mr. Wingo is a son of William A. Wingo, who was born in Amelia
county in 1818, and died in 1846, and who was a son of Allen Wingo,
of the same county. His mother, born in Amelia county in 1820, and
still living, is Sarah Jane, daughter of John and Mary A. Johnson, nee
Wooldridge, both of Amelia county. On December 17, 1878, he married
Sallie Belle Knight, who is a daughter of Col. William Carter
Knight, and a granddaughter of John Howell Knight, of Nottoway
county, Virginia. Her mother is Mrs. Cleverena T. Knight of Richmond,
Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Wingo are members of the First Baptist church
of Richmond. Their children are four, Janie Belle, Charles E., William
Wythe and John Trevilian.
