Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/328

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

was shot, but this was not' observed until the main army had retreated a considerable distance. When Mr. Costenbader made this discovery, he returned to the field of battle alone to get the colors. As the Union sol- diers saw him come back alone they com- menced to cheer and shout in admiration of his bravery. Later in life, when he re- counted this adventure to his sons, he told them that the shouting aroused his anger and he lost all fear. All alone he rammed the colors into the ground, faced the enemy, at whom he fired three times, and then retreated in safety. The enemy had appar- ently too much admiration for his courage and bravery to shoot him down, which they could have done very easily. During the second day at Gettysburg he, with a few others, captured twenty-two Union soldiers. His eldest brother was in General Sher- man's army, and \vas one of the men who, on the destructive march through the south, was considered one of the bravest soldiers in the Union army. His name was Jesse, and he was as sure that the Union army was in the right, as his brother was that the Confederates had right on their side. He, also, has passed away. He was one of the stanch Grand Army of the Republic men of the north. His hatred for his brother \vho was fighting for the southern cause was intense, and he frequently expressed the wish that they might meet face to face in battle. After the war they met — and all differences were forgotten. A complete record of the engagements in which Mr. Costenbader was active is as follows : At Gaines Mill, one day; Mechanicsville. one day; IMalvern Hill, one day; Cedar Moun- tain, one day; Second Manassas, three days; Ox Hill, where he was shot through the right breast, the bullet being extracted from his back; Fredericksburg; Gettys- burg, during the three days ; Wilderness, two days ; Spottsylvania. one day ; Hanover- town, where he was again wounded ; Funks- town or I'alling Waters; and Warrentown Springs. Upon his return to his Westmore- land county home, he resumed his business occupations, with which he was success- fully identified until his death in 1903 at the age of sixty-seven years.

Mr. Costenbader married Ella J. Pitts, born in 1848. died about 1895, daughter of William Larkin and Martha Ann (Page) Pitts; granddaughter of Richard Larkin

Pitts, w'ho was born in Caroline county, Virginia ; and a sister of Elizabeth, Ann, Martha. William. Silas, John. Sarah. Lucy, Harriet. Alexander, Larkin and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Costenbader had children : Benjamin, a resident of Slatington, Penn- sylvania ; Edwin H.. lives at Colonial Beach, Virginia ; John H.. a dentist, of Norfolk, \'irginia ; Cora V.. married Robert L. Thomas, and lives on the old Pitts home- stead in \Trginia ; Vivanna. unmarried, re- sides in Richmond; Ardelle R., married Claude W^ilkins and lives at Maple Grove, \\'estmoreland county, \^irginia ; Dr. Frank Lee. of whom further.

Dr. Frank Lee Costenbader, son of Wil- liam H. and Ella J. (Pitts) Costenbader, was born on the maternal homestead in Westmoreland county. Virginia. His edu- cation was obtained in the elementary schools of his native county, and there he attended college, afterward coming to Rich- mond and entering the University College of Medicine, receiving from that institution in 1901. the degree of Doctor of Dental Sur- gery, and in 1902. that of Doctor of i\Iedi- cine. For the period of one year after his graduation in medicine, he was the resident physician in St. Luke's Hospital, and in May, 1903. established himself in the prac- tice of dentistry, having made that profes- sion his choice. Dr. Costenbader's profes- sional labors have been heavy ever since he began his preparatory study for his degree in medicine and dentistry, and in active practice he has found great favor in Rich- mond, to which field he has confined his efTorts. His ofBce for the past four years has been at No. 113 East Grace street, where he attends to a large and profitable practice. Dr. Costenbader is fraternally associated Avith the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic order, affiliating, in the last mentioned organization, with Dove Lodge, No. 51, Free and Accepted Masons. In religious belief he is identified with the Christian church, and a member of the Sev- enth Street congregation of that denomi- nation.

Dr. Costen])ader married, at \\^ashington, District of Columbia. July 25. 1913, Mary Adelaide Teck Shand. born in Flalifax. Nova Scotia. Canada, November i. 1874, a daugh- ter of James and Annie (Reid) Shand. and a sister of Ella, Elizabeth C, Robert Napier, Matthew Henry, James P., Harry Elcho,