CAMPBELL COUNTY, VA - HISTORY - Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches Religion, Law, Politics and Finance ----¤¤¤---- CAMPBELL CHRONICLES and FAMILY SKETCHES Embracing the History of CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1782-1926 By R. H. EARLY With Illustrations J. P. BELL COMPANY LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 1927 Religion, Law, Politics and Finance Chapter VIII Religion BEFORE the period of the Revolution—church moving along with state—as in governmental affairs, so in religious observance, all control of the situation emanated from English authority and surveillance. The first known minister of the gospel in Bedford county was the Rev. John Brander (unmarried) of the Established Church of Great Britain. A deed was made to him by Benjamin Arnold of Buckingham county, conveying to "Revd. John Brander, Minister of Russell Parish in Bedford and his successors, for the use of the parish, 496 acres" in the county, which was paid for by the Church Wardens. Later this tract was sold by the trustees to Rev. John W. Holt, clerk of Russell Parish, who also belonged to the Established Church. In 1774 Rev. John Brander petitioned to receive the same salary at price and rate as other ministers of the commonwealth. In 1772-73 Brander acquired two tracts in the county, amounting to fourteen hundred acres, and a large number of slaves and other property. He made his will in 1777, which was probated in 1778, devising his whole estate to his nephew, John Brander, then residing in the county. In the meantime, on January 27, 1777, the following order had been entered in court records: "Ordered that it be certified to his Excelly. the Governor & Council that John Brander, Jr. & James McMurray, subjects to the King of Great Britain and residing in this county, are Agents for two Companies of Merchants in Great Britain; they have not manifested a friendly Disposition to the American Cause, and are both unconnected with Wives and Children in this State." On the 7th of October, 1779, the whole of Brander's estate was escheated to the commonwealth and the record of it was made in the clerk's office. On November 16, 1782, William Gill sent a petition to Virginia Assembly stating that he was the only blood relation of the Rev. John Brander in America. That Brander willed his estate to his nephew, John Brander, a British subject, but the estate was escheated to the Commonwealth, and he asked that the estate be given him. The petition was received as reasonable, so it may be presumed that Gill came into possession of Brander's estate. Gill had become resident in Campbell. On May, 1779, an act passed by the Assembly for disposing of the Glebe of Russell Parish vested the authority in Rd. Stith, Wm. Leftwich, Jas. Callaway, Jeremiah Early and John Quarles, gentlemen, in trust, the money to be laid out into a more convenient glebe. In 1782 the residents in Russell Parish asked for a division of the parish along the county line of Campbell and Bedford, as the parish was extensive and inconvenient. This occurred at the time of county division, and pretty soon thereafter Moore parish, Campbell county, was formed. Ministers of the Gospel, who were authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage: Anthony, Abner, of the United Baptists, May 28, 1827. Anthony, John, of the Baptist Society, August 28, 1781. Brander, John, of Russell Parish, Bedford, 1762. Cobbs, Nicolas Hamner, of Protestant Episcopal Church, July 26, 1824. Douglass, William, April 27, 18O1. Baptist. Early, Abner, Methodist, of Rehoboth church, Campbell county. Missionary. Early, William, of the Methodist Church. June 22, 1795. Missionary. Fuqua, Isham, of the Baptist Church, June 27, 1796. Fuqua, William, of the Baptist Church, October 23, 1815. Holt, John White, of Protestant Episcopal Church, July 25, 1785. Took oath of allegiance Aug. 25, 1777. Hunter, Andrew, of the Methodist Church, January 25, 179O. Hunter, Samuel, of the Methodist Church, June 23, 1817. Jennings, Edward, of the Baptist Church, October 24, 18O8. Leftwich, James, of the Baptist Church, February 27, 1826. Leftwich, William, Jr., of the Baptist Church, October 24, 1808. Mitchell, James, of the Presbyterian Church, September 26, 1783. Moon, Joseph, of the Methodist Church, May 27, 1799. Moorman, James H. L., February, 18O5, of the Methodist Church. Moorman, William, January, 1804. Morris, James, of the Methodist Church, January 27, 1812. Rucker, James, of the Baptist Society, August 28, 1 781. Rice, David, of the Presbyterian Church, November 26, 1781. Rucker, George, of the Baptist Church, February 28, 18O3. Russell, Daniel, of the Presbyterian Church, July 27, 1829. Scott, James, of the Methodist Church, February 22, 18O8. Turner, James, of the Presbyterian Church, January 28, 1793. Terry, Enoch, of the Baptist Church, June 25, 181O. Annulment of Marriage Ties Request for a sundering of marriage ties soon found place among petitions to the Assembly, for then there was nowhere a ready-made divorce court offering prompt service to patrons. The first petition was presented in 18O9, six years after the applicant had discovered that he had been deceived into marriage by the defendant. His request was received by the Assembly as reasonable, but made no record of its decree. The second petition in 1816 was from a "free man of color," whose application was rejected. A third petition sent in 182O was also rejected. The fourth petition came in 1822 from the wife for divorce from her husband, and was labeled by Assembly "petition to lie," which indicates a question as to its reasonableness, and probably awaited investigation. In 1823 John Rosser asked that a law be passed legalizing his marriage to his deceased wife's sister. In 1826 petition was presented by a husband asking divorce from his wife, in which he was joined by "sundry citizens," asking that his request be granted, but followed by a counter-petition from his wife that it be rejected. The first two petitions were rejected and the latter was retained as reasonable. A petition for divorce in 1834 was promptly rejected though backed by sundry (1OO) citizens of Lynchburg. Two divorce petitions of 1841, sent the same day, one from a wife, the other from a husband, were rejected. In 1844 the tenth divorce petition was presented. The eleventh petition of a wife for divorce from her husband, was sent in 1851 and was referred to the Courts of Justice. This closes the record of divorce applications to the date of 1862. It would seem from the record that the Assembly was inclined to deal leniently with the wife, or else that circumstantial evidence showed the husband to be most in fault. County Court County court was established in Bedford in 1764 and the first court was held on the fourth Monday of May following. The courts were presided over by magistrates until 187O, •when the office of county judge was created. With the establishment of the circuit court, a clerk for that court became necessary and the first one appointed to the position was Benjamin Howard, a native of the county, who received his appointment from the colonial government. He was succeeded by James Steptoe, a personal friend of Thomas Jefferson and appointed by him. His son, James Callaway Steptoe, followed. When Campbell was formed, while Robert Alexander was made county clerk, James Steptoe held that office in the circuit court until his death. County Court Clerks: Robert Alexander, 35 years, from 1784 to 1819. John Alexander, 19 years, from 1819 to 1838. William A. Clement, 7 years, from 1838 to 1845. George William Dabney, 14 years, from 1845 to 1859. John D. Alexander, 6 years, from 1859 to 1865. Wm. A. Clement, 3 years, from 1865 to 1868. Military Appointee, 3 years, from 1868 to 1871. Robert Woodson Withers, 22 years, from 1871 to 1893. Samuel C. Goggin, 32 years, from 1893 to 1925. C. W. Woodson (present incumbent), from 1925. Clerks of Circuit Court: Robert Alexander, 1O years, from 18O9 to 1819. John Alexander, 19 years, from 1819 to 1838. John D. Alexander, 3O years, from 1838 to 1868. Robert A. Clement, 15 years, from 1871 to 1886. W. K. Alexander, appointed pro tem., 1 year, 1887. R. E. Reid, elected May, 1887, served till 1893. John E. Withers, 11 years, from 1893 to 19O4. The first County Court Judge was appointed by Governor Underwood in 187O: 1. Judge John G. Haythe, of Gladys, moved to Lynchburg. 2. Judge Robert H. Ward, of Staunton river, Campbell county. 3. Judge Frank Nelson, of Warrenton, moved to Rustburg, appointed to fill Judge Ward's unexpired term, then elected to office. 4. Judge (Captain) Stephen Adams, (C. S. Veteran), of Lynchburg, appointed by Legislature. Served till 19O4. County Court, a system of adjudicating that remained in operation for a century and a half, and occasioned monthly gathering of neighbors, passed out of existence in 1904. Circuit court then embraced Halifax, Campbell, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg and Lynchburg. Judge William R. Barksdale, of Halifax county, filled the judgeship from 19O4 to 1925. Circuit Court became restricted to the City of Lynchburg and Campbell. Succeeding Judge Barksdale, Judge Don Halsey (present incumbent), of Lynchburg. Insufficient record in the old system of indexing wills caused passage of a law requiring name details wherever included in the original instrument. The new General Index to Wills in Campbell county, now being prepared by Clerk C. W. Woodson, will show not only the name of the decedent or testator, but will give that of each devisee under the will, that is, the name of each person to whom property is bequeathed by the will. When this law becomes generally carried out by the various county clerks, genealogical work will be very much simplified for the genealogist. Lawyers who qualified in County Court, Bedford-Campbell, from 1754, later in Campbell: Anthony, Christopher, Jr., February 26, 181O. Branch, Samuel, May 22, 19O9. Carrington, Paul, June 23, 1755 ; King's Attorney from May 24, 1756. Cowan, William, September 23, 178O. Clark, Christopher Henderson, May 26, 1788. Clements, Alexander, November 23, 1812. Cralle, Richard K., of Lynchburg, November 23, 1829. Daniel, Walker, July 25, 1780. Settled in Danville, Ky. Killed by Indians, 1784. Dabney, John, May 28, 1792. Judge of Superior Court of Law of Bedford county, 1813. Dabney, Chiswell, of Lynchburg, July 22, 1811. Davis, Samuel R., August 27, 1821. Elliott, John, June 27, 1769. Edley, David R., of Lynchburg, March 22, 1824. Fontaine, Edmund, December 22, 1788. Gilmer, James B., August 28, 1809. Gilmer, Peachy, January 26, 1818. Appointed States Attorney, June 22, 1818. Garland, Samuel, of Lynchburg, March 27, 182O. Garland, Maurice H., of Lynchburg, June 26, 1826. Goggin, William L., of Bedford, April 28, 1828. Hancock, George, August 26, 1782. Holcombe, Thomas A., of Lynchburg, July 22, 1816. Innis, Harry, October 27, 1778. Deputy States' Attorney and Escheator. Moved to Kentucky. Irvine, Edmund, March 22, 1824. Leftwich, John T., of Bedford, March 27, 1826. Madison, John, May 23, 1797. Morgan, Haynes, March 26, 1771. Sergeant-Major 8Oth British Regiment, 1758, seven years. Miller, Thomas, September 23, 1780. McAllister, James S., of Bedford, August 23, 1813. Mosby, Charles L., of Lynchburg, November 23, 1829. Nash, Thomas, January 27, 1755. Reade, Clement, May 27, 1754. Sworn King's Attorney May 27, 1754. Read, Clement, Jr., July 25, 1757. Read, Isaac, February 26, 1765. King's Attorney from February 26, 1765. Risque, James, November 25, 1794. Robinson (Robertson?) July 23, 1798. Roane, William R., of Lynchburg, May 23, 1814. Risque, Ferdinand W., of Lynchburg, June 22, 1829. Rives, Nathaniel, February 23, 1824. Rives, William, March 28, 1815. Stuart, Archibald, May 28, 1816. Tucker, George, of Lynchburg, February 23, 1818; later Professor of Law at University of Virginia. Urquhart, John D., February 28, 1814. Watts, William, May 22, 1764, Bedford. Ward, Henry Chiles, of Lynchburg, June 22, 1829. Ward, Giles, of Lynchburg, August 27, 1822. Wyatt, Samuel, January 26, 18O7. Winston, Edmund, June 26, 1764. Judge Superior Court of Law, 18O9. Judges of the Superior Courts of Law, of the Circuit Superior Courts of Law and Chancery and of the Circuit Courts of Bedford and Campbell: Dabney, John, 1813. Daniel, William, Sr., 1816, of Cumberland and Campbell. Daniel, William, Jr. Gilmer, George H., 1853. Shumaker, Lindsay M., military appointee, 1869. Taylor, Creed, of the Richmond Circuit. Taliaferro, Norborne, 1846. Wilson, Daniel A., 1829. Winston, Edmund, 18O9. James Steptoe, clerk of Bedford, placed on record, August 25, 1783, the foliowing unusual deed from the Presbyterian Congregations of Otter Peaks, Bedford: "Be it known to all men that whereas these Congregations found it inconvenient to support a Minister of our Denomination by yearly subscription, therefore various well disposed Members of said Congregations and others have contributed considerable sums of Money by which Slaves were bought viz: Kate, Tom, Jerry, Venus and said Slaves' issue: Nance, Ishmael, Sail, Moses, Herod, Cyrus, Pharez, Jinney, Charles, Milly and their Issue forever are vested in the Regular Elders of said Congregations in Bedford county, Virginia, and their Regular Successors in Trust only faithfully to apply the neat profits of said Slaves and Issue forever in said Congregations to supporting a Regular Minister of said Denomination in said Congregations and for purchasing lands for said Slaves to work on and to keep decent Houses of Worship in Repair and for such other Charitable uses as said Elders and Majority of said Congregations may agree upon . . . should at any time the profits of said Slaves arise to such a surplus Know all Men therefore that we the Purchasers, Heirs at Law, and next of kin to said Purchasers of said Slaves, Tom, Jerry, Venus, Purchased with the above-contributed Money, Do hereby each on our respective parts Warrant and forever defend the above named Slaves, and their Issue forever, for the above Mentioned Purpose from us and each of our Heirs and assigns forever. Witness Whereof we hereunto set our hands and affix our seals this 28th day of July One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-three. "In presence of: "James Turner Robert Ewing (Seal) "Samuel Beard W. Ewing (Seal) "Adam Beard John Trigg (Seal) "George Dickson William Trigg ( Seal) "John Ewing David Rice (Seal) "At a Court held for Bedford county 25th August, 1783, This Certain Writing was acknowledged by Robert Ewing, Wm. Ewing, William Trigg, and "At a court held for the said County the 22d day of September following the same was further proved as to David Rice and ordered to be recorded. "Teste, JAMES STEPTOE, C. C." Voice of Law Chancellor Creed Taylor, son of Samuel and Sophia Covington Taylor, owned property in Cumberland county, two miles from Farmville. He married Sally, daughter of Miller and Mary de Graffenreid-Woodson; built a home, "Needham" (named in honor of his wife's grandfather, Sir Thomas Needham, of Shropshire, England). They had no children, but adopted several young relatives, whom they reared at Needham. Chancellor Taylor was judge of Richmond Chancery Court. He travelled to Campbell over old Lawyer's Road, which received, its name from its use by the lawyers in their journeys to and from court; now crossed by the Southern railroad. A station was established there and the name was curtailed to Lawyers. Taylor resigned his judgeship and opened a select class of law students—sometimes enrolling as many as fifty students —and erected cottages to accommodate them on his premises. He died in 1843. In her "Sketches" Mrs. Cabell gives a list of the distinguished lawyers who attended Chancellor Taylor's talented and brilliant court, held May and October in the old court building at Lynchburg: Judge William Daniel, Sr., of Campbell and Cumberland district. Daniel Sheffey and Colonel Townes of Pittsylvania. Judge William Leigh of Halifax. Peachy Gilmer, Christopher Anthony, Jr.; Callahill Mennis, Chiswell Dabney, Blair Dabney of Campbell. Judge Allen Taylor of Botetourt. Judge Thomas Bouldin of Charlotte. Major James B. Risque and others. John W. Wills, clerk of court. The following incident is told as having occurred during Judge Taylor's last visit to Lynchburg, when weakness from declining health had changed his marked courtesy of manner to impatience and irritability, requiring great self-restraint to preserve politeness to the members of his court: Adjourning session for the day he appointed the hour of noon on the following one for reassembling. As time drew near next morning, he became restless before eleven o'clock and caused the court house bell to be rung long and loud. In great haste the lawyers came pouring in to meet his ireful glance. He first accosted Mr. Gilmer, reproaching him in an angry voice for being so dilatory; whereupon his victim ventured to remark that it lacked three-quarters of an hour to the appointed time. The Chancellor then losing all control of himself exclaimed in a passionate voice, "Gentlemen, I will have you in future to know, that when I take my seat, it is twelve o'clock." Cause of Disagreement Two political parties long struggled for supremacy in Virginia. Since the time of Jefferson the state had been Democratic, but there arose and flourished a strong party known as Whig (a term borrowed from England and intended to signify progress) which aimed at wresting the control of the state from the Democrats. The county of Campbell was for years a battleground, as the people were pretty equally divided in sentiment, first one party and then the other would elect its candidates for the Legislature, the personal popularity of the candidate being a controlling factor in elections. In 1836 Martin Van Buren had been nominated as president, and the Whigs were anxious to defeat the Democratic candidate. Each party in the county tried to bring out their best man. The Democrats chose Judge William Daniel of Lynchburg and Colonel James Dearing of Campbell for the House of Delegates, and for state Senator, Dr. Joel W. Flood of Buckingham. In opposition the Whigs brought out Mr. John Wills, an attorney-at-law of Lynchburg and Dr. Robert W. Withers of Campbell as Delegates, and Colonel Thomas M. Bondurant of Buckingham for Senator. There were few precincts in the county at the time and a large vote was cast at the Court House, where the party which was victorious usually carried the county. Elections at that time were conducted differently from now; every voter came up to the judge's table, announced his name and that of his candidate in an audible voice—which was repeated by the sheriff who "cried" the votes, and they were then recorded by the clerks, the result giving general satisfaction as an expression of popular sentiment. Each candidate was present at the Court House, seated on the Magistrate's bench. Those receiving the votes made a bow and returned thanks to the voters. With the final poll of votes at this election Wills, Withers and Bondurant becoming successful, the Whigs celebrated their victory with great rejoicing. A Whig electoral ticket for 1848, with Zachary Taylor of Louisiana, presidential candidate, and Millard Fillmore of New York for vice-president, gives the names of Virginia Electors: 1st District, John J. Jones, of Norfolk City; 2nd District, George W. Bolling, of Petersburg; 3rd District, Henry P. Irving, of Cumberland; 4th District, Joseph K. Irving, of Lynchburg; 5th District, William Martin, of Franklin ; 6th District, William C. Rives, of Albemarle; 7th District, Robert E. Scott, of Fauquier; 8th District, Henry T. Garnett of Westmoreland; 9th District, John A. Meredith of Richmond City; lOth District, Robert Saunders, of Williamsburg; llth District, Andrew Hunter, of Jefferson; 12th District, Alexander H. Stuart, of Augusta; 13th District, Samuel McD. Moore, of Rockbridge; 14th District, Conally F. Trigg, of Washington; 15th District, George W. Summers, of Kanawha; 16th District, Gideon D. Camden, of Harrison; 17th District, Francis H. Pierpont, of Marion. This ticket bears the autographed signature of William H. Tardy, on the reverse side, which was the name of the Campbell county voter who had used it. Around the year 1860 public issues calling for state action aroused heated debate and violent partisanship. About that time Andrew Johnson passed, by railway train, through Lynchburg at great personal risk, because of excited political feeling, but he was protected from molestation by the prompt strategy of the Whigs, and. safely continued his journey to Washington. Never was a more earnest body of delegates gathered together in Richmond than in the convention which followed party agitations of the time. A wag wrote an amusing account of this Assembly, calling it "The Animal Parliament," giving to each member the trait of an animal. One especially obdurate Whig was designated a terrapin because he was so slow to move from his stand-pat position for preservation of the Union. In the midst of pleading oratory, earnest advocates on both sides, an unlooked-for bolt fell spreading doubt and consternation: strong men wept. This was the call made by the government for armed troops of invasion, an action which instantly dissolved Whig and Democratic distinction and merged the Assembly into brotherhood with a message to carry and a purpose to defend, even if their zeal for maintenance of right became pitted against the power to win—so staking their fortunes, hearths, lives, and facing cruel, deadly war—they tried out their purpose in a conflict covering four dark years. War, the synonym for horror, for tragedy, however glorified by display of valor and self-sacrifice, paralyzed industrial enterprise, excepting for necessities of war's prosecution, and that of mercenaries, even far away Campbell had its two-day immediate contact with the destroyer. The county paid its quota in toll of soldiers, in maiming of youth and mature manhood, and in levy of available substance. Like its neighbors it also suffered from the appalling aftermath which deprived it of the freedom of action. Thus at that period it chronicled a decade of arrested progress, records of which lie buried in its archives, but memory sacredly treasures them in the hearts of those to whom they have come in heritage. The symbolic flag had not been tarnished, and reverently handled, it was now laid away and become superseded by the flag of Union. Implements of peace replaced those of war, when with earnest will and determination the followers of Lee bent their efforts towards the restoration of their homes, become dearer through the enforced absence from them. Though much which was valued had been lost, adherence to right principle remained and Virginia claimed their earnest service in placing it once again as example in leadership among the states with which it now renewed partnership. In line with other sections of the state, Campbell then became divided into two political parties, Democrats and Republicans, which still continue. Progress in Finance A protest was sent in November, 178O to Virginia Assembly against making debts and loan certificates payable according to the depreciation of money issued by Congress and by the state; and during 1786 certain inhabitants calling themselves "Sons of Liberty," addressed a petition, complaining that though maintaining themselves by the utmost exertion of industry and frugality, they were oppressed with taxes and grievously harassed with debts, augmented with insupportable scarcity of a circulating medium, by the subtlety of a few who wrested from them what money remained from the craft of the mercantile line. They requested the adoption of some mode of relief, an emission of paper currency, which would abolish apparent confusion hanging over their heads, menacing them with insupportable slavery or irrevocable destruction, and begged a sufficiency for the redemption of military claims and all others that involved the state with interest and consequently accumulated endless taxes thereon. In 1810 a thousand residents of the counties of Campbell, Buckingham, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, Bedford, Franklin, Patrick, Henry, Amherst, Nelson, Rock-bridge, Bath, Botetourt, Greenbriar, Montgomery, Grayson, Wythe, Washington, Russell and Kanawha, requested the establishment of a branch for discount and deposit of the Bank of Virginia at Lynchburg—a petition which was received by the Assembly with favor, but was submitted several times before it was carried into effect, and then "sundry persons dealing with the office of discount and deposit" made complaint that the Board of Directors gave partial and unjust bank administration in granting accommodations to inhabitants of the town in preference to those of the country, and they asked for Assembly's consideration and adjustment of the matter in the interest of the country people. At the session of December 16, 1835, the Lynchburg citizens requested passage of an act establishing a Bank of Lynchburg in the town. The next year a petition was made for establishment of the Planters' Bank of Virginia in the town with capital stock of $1,2OO,OOO and privilege of increasing it to $2,OOO,OOO, with branch banks at any place they might see advisable. Through John Wills, delegate at the time, in 1837 petition was made for an Independent Bank, and in 1838 incorporation of the Citizens Savings Bank of Lynchburg. In 1842 officers and stockholders of the Mechanics Bank asked its incorporation. The same year stockholders of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Saving Institution of Lynchburg petitioned for its incorporation, and citizens of the town and surrounding counties requested the redemption of specie payments by the bank. In 1843 the same petitioners made application for the amendment of laws in relation to breaches of trust by the trustee and commission merchants. In 1848 Campbell residents asked for the passage of an act incorporating the Aberdeen Savings Institute. Lynchburgers again in 185O called for an Independent Bank there, and petitioned in 1852 to have the Citizens Savings Bank of Lynchburg issue notes and give certificates of deposit for sums of money less than $5. William Organ, Allen L. Wyllie and Thomas Dillard petitioned for additional compensation as commissioners of revenue for Campbell county, repeating it in 1854. In 1862 Lynchburgers asked for release of the Savings Bank from the penalty of the law against issuing notes as currency. Standing to-day near the summit in industrial development of the South and as an important financial center, Lynchburg possesses four banks which represent a capital of $8,OOO,OOO, with their total resources of $3O,OOO,OOO. There are, besides these banks, many building and loan associations which promote the acquirement of homes. The Lynchburg National Bank stands in the class of Federal Reserve banks. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________________