Reconstruction in Buckingham County, Part II
Courtesy Bibb Edwards
In the spring of 1867, Lt. Col. John W. Jordan provided Gen. Orlando Brown of the Freedman’s Bureau with a list of men, both white and African-American, whom he felt were qualified to lead the Buckingham County through the post-war Reconstruction.
Click here to catch up: Reconstruction in Buckingham County, Part I
Here are the names he provided:
White
Thomas H. Garnett, Curdsville
Thomas Leitch, New Canton
J. B. Finklin, New Canton
A. J. Bondurant, Mt. Vinco
John R. Gilliam, New Store
Dr. E. C. [Charles] Davidson, Court House
Colored
John Scott, Curdsville
Woodson Washington, Rock Mills
Cesar Perkins, Court House
Solomon Brown, Curdsville
John Stanton, New Canton
Peter Fontaine, New Canton
~
Lt. Col. Jordan had searched far and wide for evidence that these men had not been in favor of the secession of Virginia from the Union that they supported the new freedoms imposed by Federal law and believed them all to be fit to serve in governmental duties.
Who were the men who made up this diverse list? If a Slate River Ramblings’ reader recognizes any of these names, please comment below. In the posts that follow, their biographies and their forays into the challenging and evolving public sphere will be explored.
A special thanks to Bibb Edwards for sharing this important document.
Coming next: Reconstruction in Buckingham County, Part III
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Solomon Brown is my great great grandfather om my father’s side of the family.
Thanks for your comment.
Joanne
Please consider sharing more about Solomon Brown.
Joanne
Dear Reader:
Two of these folks are kin to me. I claim Thomas Henry Garnett ( no, it’s not Garrett–it’s Garnett). He lived near “Garnett’s Chapel,” on Hooper’s Mountain. The property adjoined my Grandmother Ellie Hooper Holman’s old home where the Hoopers lived since colonial times. This Thomas H. Garnett was born in 1819 as Thomas Henry Garnett, son of Mr. Garnett and Mary Cooke Garnett and grandson of Stephen Cooke, a brother to Mrs. Elizabeth Cooke (Col. George) Hooper of “Hooper’s Mt.” Thomas Henry Garnett married Ann Elizabeth Eldridge, daughter of Thomas Kidder Eldridge and Mary Ayres Eldridge, the daughter of Rev. John Ayres of “Edgehill,” Buckingham County. My grandmother fondly referred to Thomas Henry Garnett’s two children as Uncle Tom and Aunt Polly. They were born in the 1840’s and lived near “Garnett’s Chapel.” Leitch was Thomas Maurice Leitch, (1826-1886). He was born the son of William and Mary Ann Langhorne Leitch. Thomas married as his second wife Martha G. Spencer, (1839-1892), the daughter of Nathan and Martha Meredith Spencer of Buckingham and granddaughter of Judith Ayres Spencer–eldest child of Col. Nathan Ayres (d. 1822). The Leitch family lived on the James River Plantation called Mt. Ida. Among the Leitch children were Mildred Fontaine Leitch, who married John Ayres Gary and lived at “Locust Hill,” on James River across from Columbia. My Grandmother Holman frequently visited her and called her “Cousin Mildred.” Her brother was a distinguished Methodist missionary (educated at Randolph-Macon and Vanderbilt) and principal of a high school in China. He died young–no descendants.
Harry Stuart Holman
Much more to come — both White and Colored. Change is sweeping through Buckingham County and Virginia. Joanne
Thanks, Harry. More about Garnett and Leith coming in Part IV. Joanne
Dear Reader:
I have found in my notes additional facts about Thomas Henry Garnett–first on the list above. He appears to have died on September 7, 1906, at the age of eighty-eight. At that time he was a member of Smyrna Methodist Church and was buried on the western slop of Willis Mt. It was said of him that he was “one of the best known and beloved citizens of the county….”
Reblogged this on Michele Beller and commented:
What a great document! So sorry to see none of my ancestors on the Colored list though 😦
Much more to come — both White and Colored. Change is sweeping through Buckingham County and Virginia. Joanne
Bill this is very interesting. The items of Josiah Davidson ( son of David Davison) I have rested in the home previously owned by J.R. Gilliam in Buckingham for over 100 years when my ggrandmother moved there in 1898. As you know I am a desendant of David Davidson as well.
Bill, this is very interesting. The items of Josiah Davidson (Son of David Davidson) I have rested in the home previously owned by John R. Gilliam in Buckingham for over 100 years. As you know I am a descendant of David Davidson as well. I look forward to other information Joanne post on Dr. Davidson.
Thanks, lots more coming in this series. Joanne
John R.Gilliam lived at the home I was raised in. The home is Osceola and is located on State Route 609 in the Francisco District of Buckingham County. The home is one of the oldest homes in the county going back to the 1740’s. The home was a stage coach stop on the road from Richmond to Lynchburg and remains of the road can be seen today. The home is standing and is owned by the Dick Family. I have some early deeds and surveys of the property. Hope this helps. You can get information on this property on the internet as it was in the Gilliam family back into the 1700’s. I believe John R. in in the family cemetery located close to the home.
Thanks for this information about John R. Gilliam. I will add it to the upcoming post, Part VI, which is about him. Joanne
Thanks, Bill. There will be more about Dr. Davidson is upcoming posts. Stay tuned! Joanne
The Dr. Charles Edward Davidson who is on that list had been a surgeon for the Confederacy. He was a descendant of the David Davidson who had been on the 1764 Buckingham Co., VA tithe list.