Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/442

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

William Vickory, born December 19, 1785; he learned the printing business under his uncle, Thomas Todd, in Nashville, Tennes- see ; he married Dorothy Hall Vaughn, who bore him eleven children, the third of whom was Thomas Barker, born in Petersburg, Indiana, April 6, 1820, at the present time ( 1914) a resident of Crockett, Texas, who has been blind for the past fifteen years. 2. Thomas Barker, who was a lawyer by pro- fession and served an apprenticeship in the office of his uncle, William Tunstall ; he was always called "Uncle Buck ;" he served as secretary of the state of Alabama for a num- ber of years ; he died in 1842, at the home of his brother. Dr. Peyton Tunstall, in Bald- win county. Alabama, and was laid to rest in Mciutpelier cemetery. 3. Elizabeth Kear- nc}'. who married (first) John Hilliard, by whom she had several children, the oldest of whom was Dr. Robert Hilliard, who mar- ried Alary Walker. After the death of John llilliard, Elizabeth Kearney Hilliard mar- ried (second) Dr. Joseph Arrington, by whom she had three children, one son and two daughters; her son was named Edmund Tunstall Arrington. 4. George Brooks, who with his brother, William V., learned the printing business in the office of their uncle, Thomas Todd, in Nashville ; George Brooks went to Pensacola, Florida, and there he met the wealthy heiress. Louise Tate, mar- ried her and became the father of Thomas Tate Tunstall, born August 8, 1823, who was United States consul to Cadiz, Spain, when the civil war began and who now lives in Mobile, Alabama; George Brooks died in 1842 and was laid to rest by the side of his brother, Thomas Barker. 5. Dr. Peyton Randolph, married Anne Arrington, who l:)ecame the mother of Virginia Clay Clop- ton, who now lives in Huntsville, Alabama, authoress of "A IJelle of the Fifties," which is an account of life in Washington prior to the civil war and when her husband, Clement C. Clay, was senator from Alabama ; her mother died a few days after her birth, and her father left her with her people and joined the army, where he served as sur- geon until his death of yellow fever in Pen- sacola, h^lorida, in 1847. '^'- l^r. Edmund Savage, who at the age of sixteen was with (leneral Jackson in the battle of New Or- leans; he died in 1841 and was laid to rest in Montpelier Cemetery. 7. Ruth Vickory, married lolin Mitchell, who was killed: she

was the mother of five children ; the last heard of the family they were living in Mor- gan county, Alabama.

William (2) Tunstall, son of William (i) and Elizabeth (Barker) Tunstall, succeed- ed his father as clerk of the county court and circuit superior court of law and chan- cery. He was a model of fidelity and accu- racy in his official as well as in his private business, and no man of his day command- ed more respect or confidence. He was of medium size, with a ])enignant, intelligent face, unpretending in manner, always calm and remarkable for his neatness and good taste in dress. Although the burden of the work of the offices in the latter years fell vtpon his deputy, who was also his son and successor, William H. Tunstall, he person- ally and faithfully superintended the busi- ness of the offices until 1836, having served forty-five years. He died two years later, in 1838. He married Sarah Pugh, daughter of William and Winifred (Hill) Pugh. They had two sons and four daughters: i. Wil- liam U.. who succeeded his father in both offices, removing to Mississippi in 1852. 2. Thomas George, married Sarah Sullivan. 3. WHiitmell Pugh, of whom further. 4. Wini- fred Hill, became the wife of Colonel Na- thaniel Wilson. 5. Elizabeth Barker, be- came the wife of Colonel George Townes, one of whose daughters, Emily, became the wife of Colonel A. P. Buford, who was the president of the Richmond & Danville rail- load. 6. Ann, became the wife of Samuel Tunstall. 7. Sallie Pugh, who became the wife of Dr. Anderson, and removed to Texas.

Whitmell Pugh Tunstall, son of William (2) and .Sarah (Pugh) Tunstall, was born in April, 1810. in Pittsylvania county, Vir- ginia, died February 19, 1854, a life of ful- fillment but of great promise cut short in its prime. He was a member of the Vir- ginia house of delegates and as patron of the bill to charter the Richmond & Dan- ville railroad should ever hold the grateful love of his state. This bill introduced by Mr. Tunstall in April, 1838, and supported by him in a wonderful speech, prophetic in its vision, strong in its reasoning and most eloquent in its phrasing, was brought to successful issue nine years later, March 8, 1847. '1^ '1 letter to his brother-in-law. Colo- nel (ieorge Townes. written one hour after the passage of the bill by the senate, with- out amendment, he said: ""Tis the proudest