Histories and Photos D-F

William Albert Dickerson

William Albert Dickerson was born August 4, 1845 in Charlotte County, Virginia. He was the son of Nathan David Dickerson and Nancy Green Moses. William was one of 19 children born to Nathan and Nancy.

William enlisted in the Civil War on December 20, 1862 in Greene County, Virginia. He was assigned to Company F in the 35^th Battalion Virginia Cavalry. He was captured on May 18, 1863 and was sent to Ft. McHenry. After his release he was then sent to Ft. Monroe on May 20, 1863, on to be captured again on June 9, 1863 at Beverly Ford. He was released from Old Capitol Prison on June 25, 1863. On January 17, 1864 he was admitted to the Charlottesville Hospital with scabies. He was returned to duty on February 5, 1864. Records indicate he surrendered at Edwards’ Ferry on April 25, 1865and was paroled on May 19, 1865 in Gordonsville, Virginia.

After the war there were Civil War Reunions and William attended many of them. One of the reunions he attended was in Birmingham, Alabama in May 1926. He received Civil War medallions when he attended these reunions. He received a military disability pension until his death in 1933.

After getting out of the military, William was the overseer of farms in the area of Prince Edward, Charlotte and Halifax Counties. On December 21, 1869 he married Sarah Rose Barnes. William and Sarah had a total of 9 children.

The Dickerson family was very musical. William played the banjo along with his father and brothers at revivals around the Counties.

William Albert Dickerson died in Clover, Halifax County, Virginia on November 25, 1933 and is buried at Rodger’s Chapel Church in Clover, Virginia

By: Jacqueline Dunkley Gray

Great-Great Granddaughter

EDWIN B. DYER

Edwin B. Dyer was born November 23, 1845, in Alabama. He was the son of George and Nancy Dyer.

He joined the Confederacy in 1862. He was a private in the 14^th Alabama Infantry, Co. E, Alabama Volunteers. He was at Gettysburg. He participated in the Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles. The Fourteenth participated in struggles around Petersburg during the last ten months of the War. He was discharged April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, Virginia under Captain Perry of Lowndes. There were 70 to 80 men in the fourteenth that were discharged at Appomatox Court House.

On the forced march to Petersburg, Virginia, he dislocated part of his left arm and had recently broken his right arm. This would affect him for the rest of his life.

He married Alice A. Smith on March 2, 1869, in Chambers County, Alabama. Edwin and Alice had five children. They moved from Alabama to Atlanta, Texas to be near his son who was in the oil business. They moved to Fouke, Arkansas, to be near his daughter. He was a farmer and worked in the sawmill. He moved to Oklahoma to live with his oldest daughter.

Edwin died on December 9, 1913. He is buried in the cemetery at Ft. Towson, Choctow County, Oklahoma. Alice died on July 8, 1929, in Miller County Arkansas near her daughter. She is buried in the cemetery at Ft. Towson, Choctow County, Oklahoma.

Submitted by Great Granddaughter, Mrs. Patsy Longino Limpus (Mrs. L.L.), President General, United Daughters of the Confederacy 2002-2204

ROBERT PHILIP ELLIOTT

Robert Philip Elliott was born in 1834 in Campbell County Virginia. On 12-29-1853 he married Louisa Cox Mann, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Johnson Mann, also of Campbell County. They had 8 children, Robert F., Nannie, William, Philip Terrell (my ancestor), Mary E., Georgianna, Chamford, and Thomas H.Elliott. They resided in a part of Bedford County which later became Campbell County. Robert is described as being about 5ft.10in., with dark complexion and dark hair and green eyes.

Robert joined the Army of the Confederacy on 3-5-1862 at Campbell County Court House in Pattesons Co. D., Virginia Heavy Artillery as 4^th Corporal. He later transferred to the 18^th Virginia Battalion and was reduced in ranks (to Private) sometime before 11-30-1863 and was present through 8-31-1864. Robert was taken POW on 4-6-1865 at Burks Farm, sent to Newport News on 4-14-1865 where he took the oath and was released on 7-1-1865.

Robert and his family lived and worked on Rock Castle Farm in Bedford/Campbell County owned by the famous Dr. John Jay Terrell (Dr Terrell, a Quaker, is well known for his work at the Pest House as well as being one of the best physicians of his time).

Robert died on 9-22-1871 of a gunshot wound after an argument over a dog. His neighbor, a Mr. Clay, was upset because Robert and his wife had complained about his dog being destructive in their yard and garden. Louisa had thrown hot water on the dog one day and Mr. Clay came over to talk about the problem. All parties believed the problem was over. Then one evening Mr. Clay came over to the farm and asked one of Roberts sons to have him come to the barn to talk. Robert being suspicious took a gun with him to the barn, but it did not help. Mr. Clay shot him immediately on his arrival at the barn. The mortal wound entered his left shoulder passed through his spine, and lung and exited at the collarbone. Robert was laid to rest in a small private cemetery (Burruss Family) off Route 24 near Evington Virginia. There is a military marker there.

To date we have been unable to locate any court records of charges brought against this Mr. Clay. It is said that his family had him sent away after the shooting to protect him as this was a well known and liked family in Campbell County.

And now we have the rest of the story - thanks to a lady who read our site - Gynger Cook - who has done a lot of research on the Clay Family.

MURDER OF ROBERT PHILIP ELLIOTT

Samuel Clay was the one who shot your ancestor, he was the son of General Odin Green Clay, Odin was also a very close friend of Dr. Terrell. I have researched this family for about 25 years or so, and the one I could not find a lot of information on was Samuel, I was beginning to think that he had been killed in the war. But I found all of Odin’s sons were in the 2nd Va. Cavalry EXCEPT Samuel, I heard later he may have been in the Union Army, but have not pursued it.

Anyway, while in Rustburg, Va. several years ago I found in an old, dusty, half hidden Court Order book (it is not on the regular shelves, it is in a little room to the side on a shelf against the back wall,) I sat down to read it and found a very small statement that Samuel Clay had been indicted for the murder of Robert Elliott, mentioning Mrs. Elliott, Dr. Terrell, and the son, as witnesses, and that a court date would be set at a later date. ( I cannot remember the exact wording right off hand.) I continued to read but did not find anything else concerning the case. I went through the indexes, but could not find anything else.

I thought if there was a murder, it must have been in the Lynchburg paper because Samuels father was so prominent. I did not think that they could have hid it, but they sure did a great job of it. I finally found a very small article that Mr. Clay had been brought before the court, and his trial continued to the following session, it seems that the sessions were only convened once a month. In the newspaper for the following month, it was continued once again, and low and behold, the next month, continued again, and you are not going to believe this, but the last mention was that the trial was dismissed because Samuel had not received a speedy trial.

At the Va. Historical Society in Richmond, there is are several boxes of items that belonged to the Clay family, among these items is a receipt for $500.00 to the lawyer that defended Samuel, a great deal of money for that time, that really amazed me, because one of Samuels brothers was a lawyer in Lynchburg.

Samuel was married to Ann Henry Hooper from Buckingham Co., and they had 3 children, Kitty, Charles and Callie, shortly after Callie was born, her mother was staying at Odin’s home when Hunters troops came to the Mill and looted the farm, they brought their horses into the house and poured feed into the piano and fed the horses. Ann went into shock from all the trauma and died shortly after, Samuel I have come to believe was a thorn in Odin’s side, he is described and a angry man, some of the things that I have heard led me to believe he may have drank a lot, at any rate Odin had purchased 1000 acres of Jefferson's Poplar Forest to be put in trust for Samuel children, eventually he added a codicil to his will and exclude Samuel as guardian of the children’s property, pretty much excluding Samuel from inheriting anything. Dr. Terrell was listed as one of the guardians for the children, and put up quite a large bond.

When Samuels oldest daughter married, Samuel went to live with them for awhile, but was very mean to the husband and ended up coming back to Lynchburg and lived with an old friend. Samuel had Brights disease and became very ill, not having anyone to care for him (none of his children could handle him for any length of time) finally shortly before his death a niece took him in until he died.

I am very sorry for your family tragedy, there are some letters from Dr. Terrell to Kitty Clay that one of Kitty’s great granddaughters still has, but I don' think that he went into any detail of what happened. It sounds like Samuel was a pretty angry person all of the time, a time bomb waiting to go off.

Submitted by Carolyn Evans Austin, Great, Great Granddaughter.

THOMAS DAVIS GILMER EVANS

Thomas Davis Gilmer Evans, who was nicknamed Tommy, was born on November 18, 1842, the ninth child of Thomas Davis Evans and Elizabeth A. Robertson. Tommy was tall and slender and very much the gentleman - - well spoken and interested in people and their problems. He served with valor for the Confederacy 1861-1865, enlisting as a private in April 1861 at the age of 18 in the Appomattox Invinicbles, Company A, 44^th Regiment, Virginia Volunteers. He was mustered into service as an infantry private June 1, 1861 and served as a corporal for four years without receiving a serious wound.

Tommy and six others of his company, who had escaped capture at Saylors Creek, arrived in Appomattox on April 8^th. Tommy spent the night at the home of his uncle, Dr. David Pharr Robertson. Realizing that no further flight was possible, General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant on the next afternoon, April 9, 1865. Since his entire division had been captured at Saylors Creek and he did not remain with the Army after Lees surrender, Thomas D. Evans does not appear on the official muster lists of the Confederate Army at Appomattox, which was compiled on April 10 and 11, 1865. The formal surrender and parole took place on April 12, 1865. The military service records for the Confederate Army in the Archives in Washington, D.C. contain the prisoner of war parole signed by Thomas D. Evans on May 31, 1865 in Campbell County, Virginia.

On November 30, 1870 Tommy married Nancy May Wood. The had the following 9 children:

Thomas, Anna, Isabelle, Daniel, Evie Virginia, Jesse, Dewitt, Sarah, and Henry Grady.

Tommy lived the remainder of his life as a farmer in Campbell County, Virginia where he died on January 20, 1911.

Submitted by Susan Evans Deaner, Great, Great, Granddaughter.

CHANCEY COMEDORE FERGUSON

Chancey Comedore Ferguson known as Dick or C.C. was born November 15, 1837 to Lilborn and Willieanne Ferguson. C.C. was raised in Appomattox on a farm and made this his life work.

On June 19, 1861, at the age of 23, he joined the Army of the Confederate States of America , enlisting at Appomattox in the 2^nd Co.B, 46^th Regiment Virginia Infantry, Wise Legion/ 2^nd Regiment Wise Brigade.

The 46^th spent some time in western Virginia and then in Richmond where they were treated well with good food and clothes. They later traveled on to Petersburg and then to Norfolk where some of the soldiers had a chance to see the ironclad called the Virginia. In mid January 1862, they boarded canal boats which took them south into NC on the Dismal Swamp Canal, the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal and across the Currituck Sound and finally into the town of Nags Head. It was reported they were well cared for in a fine hotel there, but this was not to last on February 7^th, 1862 the orders came in to pack up and load onto schooners and were towed to Roanoke Island. The battle on Roanoke Island was short, but won by the Union and about 2500 men were captured. On February 18^th C.C. was one of the captured and was then paroled at Elizabeth City on February 21^st. On April 14^th C.C. signed a petition urging President Davis to hasten the exchange. On December 12, 1863 C.C. was arrested for leaving his post. Lt. Hannah wrote Col. Duke saying Ferguson has been a good soldier who knows his duties ignorance of nature of offense. He continued to serve in the war until he was paroled at the end of the war at Farmville, Virginia, sometime between April 11^th & 21^st, 1865.

C.C. Ferguson married during the war on May 7^th, 1862 to Emmaline Sydney Ferguson who was the daughter of Roland and Mary Elizabeth Jennings Ferguson. C.C. and Emmaline had 11 children. Emmaline died in 1888 of a massive heart attack. C.C. Ferguson married a second time to Nannie D. Harris and they had 14 children.

C.C. was written into the Appomattox History Books as follows, Confederate soldier. Faithful soldier: came out of the army in 1865 without capital in dollars, but capital in character, health and energy, with a determination to have a home in which to raise his family. He deserves special mention, having done more to populate the county than any one else with a family of 25 children. The most of them lived to manhood and womanhood. He raised them well and added greatly to the splendid citizenship of Appomattox County. He was married twice.

C.C. Ferguson was 99 years old when he passed away on June 30^th, 1936. He lived on his farm until the day he died and is buried on the farm in Appomattox County, Virginia.

Submitted by Carolyn Evans Austin, Great, Great Granddaughter

Ancestor of Valorie Austin Tillett, Carolyn Evans Austin, Frances Wooldridge Evans, Joan Reynolds Butler and Frances Lerner Miles.

Daniel Preston Ferguson

Daniel Preston Ferguson was born March 24, 1844 in Appomattox County Virginia, the son of Roland and Mary Elizabeth Jennings Ferguson. Daniel had 11 siblings, Thomas A., Mary Jane, Martha Winston, America A., Emmaline Sydney, William H., Joel D., Bryant Demarcus, Mary E., Ardemonia A., and Robert H.

Daniel served the Confederate States Army from August 6, 1863 until his parole on June 12, 1865 at Point Lookout, Maryland. Daniel was captured on March 31, 1865 at Hatchers Run.

Daniel served in Company D, 18^th Virginia Regiment, Huntingtons Brigade, Picketts Division.

Daniels family suffered greatly during the war having lost his brother William in the war at Petersburg on 7-30-1864 and brother in law, Robert Lucado (husband of Mary Jane) died of measles in May 1862, in Petersburg. His brother in law, Robert S. Jamerson (husband of America) was in the war in 46^th VA Inf. as well as his brother in law, Chancey C. Ferguson, (husband of Emmaline) who was also in the 46^th. Daniels wife Nancy had seven members of her family also in the war (five brothers and 2 brothers in law) two of them were killed in action.

Daniel married Nancy Gilliam Conner, daughter of Allen Abendigo and Lennis Ann Ferguson Conner, on November 14, 1866. Daniel and Nancy had 6 children, Addie Lee, Helen Levergie, Thomas Moses, Charles Jennings, Luke A., and Robert Hurley.

One article said Daniel was one of Appomattox best farmers, having left the war with practically nothing but energy and determination to succeed which he did - raising a family and leaving them a good farm. Another article said he was a distinguished soldier, an esteemed Virginia gentleman and the head of a splendid family.

When Daniel passed away in 1938 at the age of 93, he was one of five surviving Confederate Veterans in Appomattox County Virginia. At his death, he was survived by two daughters, three sons, 22 grandchildren, and 46 great grandchildren. He was the oldest member of Liberty Baptist Church.

The Appomattox Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy took part in his funeral ceremony.

Article submitted by Carolyn Evans Austin, Great, Great Niece.

HENRY CLAY FERGUSON

Henry Clay Ferguson was born in 1844. On May 29, 1861 at Christainsburg, VA, he enlisted in the Confederate Service for one year. The enlisting officer was Captain Fowlks. Henry Clay was assigned to Company F, 11^th Infantry Regiment Virginia. During the war he was a teamster or wagoner. He was listed as AWOL for the period February 8, 1862 to January 8, 1863.

Henry Clay was captured by Union General Seigal on October 9, 1862 and held at Old Capitol Prison in Washington, DC. He was sent to “Justice Mineral” and exchanged in a prisoner exchange on October 31, 1862. (He may have been on the list exchanged and delivered to Aiken’s Landing on November 2, 1862.) He reported to Captain Meade, Assistant Quarter Master for Picket’s supply train as a wagoner. He served in this capacity from June 13, 1863 to the end of the war. The records do not indicate where he was paroled.

On December 18, 1867 Henry Clay married Francis R. Goin, daughter of William and Elizabeth Goin. They had seven children: Meade, Nathan Wade “Pomp“, Henry Winston, Rosalee, Lelia Walker, Clementine, and James Shelton. On January 1, 1868 Henry Clay leased a parcel of land from Col. George W. Abbitt under a 5 year lease. Among other provisions the lease required that Ferguson shall cut and haul timber and erect a durable dwelling house and stable.

On November 30, 1870 Henry Clay bought 200 acres of land from Maria Webb (widow of Abraham Webb) for $700.00; payable $100.00 down, $100.00 to be paid from sale of tobacco in spring of 1871 and the balance in $100.00 installments starting November 30, 1871. On September 6, 1873 he purchased an additional 192 acres from Maria for $250.41 payable $100.00 down and the balance in two equal payments on March 1, 1874 and 1875. Henry Clay was a farmer raising the usual crops of tobacco, wheat, corn and hay.

Henry Clay’s wife was a charter member of Hollywood Baptist Church and he was an active member of the church. He served on the committee to rebuild the church after the original church burned in 1869. He also served on the committee to write the constitution and by-laws for the church in 1890. Henry Clay died on September 8, 1902. He is buried in a small family cemetery on his farm. That portion of his farm is now owned by the Virginia Department of Forestry, but the cemetery is well marked.

Submitted by: Thomas B. Childers, Great Grandson

MAJOR JOEL WALKER FLOOD

Joel W. Flood was born January 9, 1839 in what was then Buckingham County, Virginia. He was the son of Colonel Henry D. Flood and Mary E. Trent. He attended Emory & Henry College and the University of Virginia, graduating in 1860 at the age of 21. He returned to Appomattox County and became first Captain and Commanding officer at 22 years of age of Company H, 2^nd VA. Cavalry, Appomattox Rangers. They were mustered into service June 3, 1861 in Lynchburg, Virginia by Lt. Col. D.A. Langhone. Captain Flood reported his troops having good uniforms and other clothing. Every member of the company have old sabers in bad condition, 34 old flintlock pistols in bad condition and about worthless. Some 40 members have furnished themselves with double barrel shot guns, their private property. The company having furnished their tents, 10 in number costing $28.00 each. Captain Flood having two horses valued at $425.00 and $40.00 worth of equipment. Captain Flood became ill in August 1861 and returned home. Sometime after February 1862 he returned to duty and was assigned to General James L. Kemper’s staff and promoted to Major. Major Flood served under Lt. General James Longstreet First Army Corps and Major General George E. Pickett Division. Major Flood surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse and rode a few miles to his plantation at Eldon where his wife served supper to the Major and a Union Colonel.

Mr. Flood was a large landowner of several thousand acres. He had many tenants and was an exceptionally easy landlord and seldom did a tenant move, except when he became able to purchase a farm for himself. Mr. Flood was elected to the House of Representatives in 1873 and served two terms. He was intensely interested in the up building of the county and was a leader in church work and also benefactors to the poor. Mr. Flood made it a point to ride through the neighborhood each winter to see who were in needy circumstances and nothing in his smokehouse or flour bin was to good to be sent to give them comfort. He would take delight in taking it to their door.

Mr. Flood was married to Ella Faulkner, and the Father of Congressman Henry De La Warr Flood, Judge Joel West Flood, and the Grandfather of the United States Senator Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. Major Flood died October 23, 1916 and is buried in Vera, Virginia in the Flood Cemetery at the old home which was used as Lt. General Longstreet’s last headquarters.

Submitted by Cloyd A. Flood, Descendent (Cousin).

DANIEL W. FLOOD

Daniel W. Flood was born on March 13, 1844 in Togo, Virginia. Daniel was first married to Mary F. and their children were Thomas E., Joseph W., and Fannie J. Flood.

In 1903 Daniel married Lucie E., born in 1862 near the town of Amherst, Virginia. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Carson.

Daniel, the eighteen year old son of James Monroe Flood, enlisted in 1862 for three years and served in Co. H, 25^th VA. Infantry, Richmond Battalion, City Local Defense, Confederate States Army, Captain William A. Allison’s Co. Daniel was wounded at the battle of Brook Church May 12, 1864. His wound was to the right leg about half way between the knee and foot and he was confined to Chimborazo Hospital until April 1865. This information came from his application of Soldier, Sailor, or Marine for disability by wound.

After the war he returned to Buckingham County to resume farming and in 1896 moved to Amherst County Virginia where he farmed until his death in 1909.

Daniel’s uncle, the Rev. T. H. Fitzgerald, a Baptist Minister from Beckley, WV, founded three churches in Buckingham County Virginia. Rev. Fitzgerald related in a letter written in 1951, that when he was a lad of 10, that during the war many a Confederate soldier, tired and discouraged found food and rest at his father-in-laws house in Toga, Virginia.

After the surrender, Clementine Flood, Mr. Fitzgerald’s niece, age 16, poured coffee for General Robert E. Lee when he stopped at Toga Virginia on his way back to Richmond.

Submitted by Cloyd Flood, Descendent (Cousin).