TAZEWELL M. McCORKLE.
On the paternal side Mr. McCorkle is of Scotch descent, his father's
father coming to Virginia in colonial days from Scotland. His mother's
grandfather, Jno. O'Donald, settled in Virginia with his family at
Cartersville about 1787; he was present at the execution of the traitor
Arnold. Samuel McCorkle, father of Tazewell M., was many years an
honored resident of Lynchburg, where he was engaged in business for
over forty years, the firms of McCorkle and McDaniel controlling the
business of this section many years. He was president of the Merchants'
Bank of Lynchburg, and was for a long time a member of the
Board of the James River and Kanawha Canal Company. He died in
August, 1866. His wife, mother of Tazewell M., was Sarah B. Perry.
She is still living in Lynchburg, now 80 years of age. To this honored
couple it was given to furnish five sons for the service of Virginia in
the War between the States. Alexander R., Samuel M., Calvin, William
O., and Tazewell M. The latter entered the service at Hampden-Sidney
College, in May, 1861, rank of third lieutenant. He was taken
prisoner at Rich Mountain battle, July, 1861, and paroled three days
later, at Beverly. He was not exchanged until eighteen months
later, when he again took the field, serving in the First Rockbridge
Artillery until the close of the war. The Wilderness, Cold Harbor,
Spotsylvania C. H. and Tillman's Farm were among the heaviest of
the battles in which he took part.
Mr. McCorkle was educated for the ministry, graduating from the
Union Theological Seminary of Prince Edward county, Virginia.
After preaching for eighteen months he withdrew from the ministry on
account of failing health. Later he engaged in mercantile pursuits,
and he is now the senior member of the firm of T. M. McCorkle & Co.,
wholesale and retail groceries. On November 13, 1861, at Farmville,
Virginia, Rev. Nelson Head, of the M. E. Church (South) officiating, he
married Susanna M. Dunnington, who was born in Farmville, on
November 30, 1842.
