Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1024

958 battle of Yellow Tavern, where Stuart received his fatal injuries. He was disabled during the remainder of the war, and died in 1888. Henry I'Anson, M. D., served in Young's howitzer company throughout the war up to the disastrous battle of Sailor's Creek, where he received three severe wounds, from which he never fully recovered, though he was subsequently engaged in the practice of medicine until his death in 1884. James Thornton I'Anson served in the reserve corps and was with the army on the retreat to Appomattox, where he surrendered. Rev. Vernon I'Anson, the youngest of these brothers, born in Chesterfield county, July 6, 1850, was too young for much participation in the war, but, toward the close of the struggle, he became a member of the reserve corps under General Kemper, and throughout he manifested such sympathy with the cause that he was five times captured and once condemned to be shot by the Federals, but his life was saved through the fidelity of a negro boy. He was educated at Hampden-Sidney and Richmond colleges and, while yet a student, was ordained in the Baptist ministry, and given charge of a church. He was for seven years in charge of the Third Baptist church at Norfolk, which prospered greatly under his care, and is now known as the Grace Baptist church; was then four years at Marion, Va., and in 1894 took charge of the county high school and church at Emporia, his present field of labor. He is not only devoted as a pastor, but also frequently appears as a public speaker on various topics, and contributes liberally to the religious as well as the local press. He is of the rank of Knight Templar in the Masonic order, is an active Odd Fellow, and serves as chaplain of Chambliss-Barham camp, United Confederate Veterans. January 14, 1880, he was married to Mattie J., daughter of Benjamin Donaldson Tillar, an extensive land-owner of Greenesville county, and they have three children: Tillar Dunlop, Mary E., and Annie J. Mrs. I'Anson's father was a man of great prominence and her brother, Hon. B. D. Tillar, served in the Virginia legislature, and at the time of his death, in 1887, was president of the Atlantic & Danville railroad. Two of her brothers were in the Confederate army as members of the Greenesville Guards. One, Henry, served throughout the war, but the other, John, who held the rank of captain of the Guards, died from exposure and fever in 1862.

Captain Richard Irby, commander of W. B. Newton camp, United Confederate Veterans, Ashland, Va., was born in Nottoway county, September 28, 1825. He is the descendant of an old and worthy family in Virginia. His father, Edmund Irby, born in Nottoway county in 1781, married Frances Briggs Lucas, of Greenesville county, became a prosperous planter, and died in 1829. William Irby, father of the latter, and the first of his family to settle in Nottoway county, was born in 1752, married first, Jane Edmunds, of Sussex county, and, second, Elizabeth Williams, of Nottoway, and died in 1811. William Irby was the son of John Irby, of Sussex, born 171S, died 1761, and John was the son of Edmund Irby, of Prince George, born 1675, died 1733. Capt. Richard Irby was educated at Randolph-Macon college, an institution to which his life has been largely devoted, and graduated in the class of 1844, which included such brilliant men as Bishop McTyeire, Gen. Lucius J. Garttrell, Col. James N. Ramsey, John