Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/567

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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1882, a farmer and a soldier of the Confed- eracy, serving in the Home Guard. Her mother, Mary Elizabeth (Reed) Blackwell, now resides in Danville with her daughter. Children of Dr. Robert Blackwell : Mary Orgain, born October 12, 1899; Sarah Eliz- abeth, April 3, 1901. Dr. Blackwell's busi- ness office is located in the Dudley Block, Danville.

Nathaniel Woodson Bowe. The history of any community resolves itself into the lives of the men whose activities have been responsible for its upbuilding, hence no his- tory of Richmond would be complete with- out prominent mention of the late Nathan- iel Woodson Bowe. who belonged to that class of distinctly representative American men who promote public progress in ad- vancing individual prosperity, and whose private interests never preclude active par- ticipation in movements and measures which concern the general good. The great- great-grandson of men who were conspicu- ous in the early life of the state, few of her native sons contributed more to the develop- ment of the real estate interests of Rich- mond than did Nathaniel Woodson Bowe. He occupied an important place in the affairs of the city, both in its civic and busi- ness enterprises, through his indomitable energy, his devotion to every duty, and his active championship of men and measures, aiming to further the best interests of Rich- mond.

( I ) John Bowe. the immigrant ancestor of the family, came from England, in 1701, locating in Hanover county, Virginia, which was the home of the family until the settle- ment of Nathaniel Woodson Bowe in the city of Richmond in January, 1868.

(II) Nathaniel Bowe, son of John Bowe, was a large land owner in Hanover county, Virginia, and resided on the old homestead farm where his birth occurred. He mar- ried a Aliss Ragland, a native of Louisa county, Virginia, and among their children was Nathaniel, of whom further.

(III) Nathaniel (2) Bowe, son of Nathan- iel (I) Bowe, was born in the same house in which his father had been born, and spent his life engaged in the same occupation, farming. He was a captain of Hanover county militia, and saw service during the second war with Great Britain, from 1812 to 1814. He was a W^hig in politics, and a

man of local importance. He married Sus- anna Davis, also a native of Hanover county. Children : Martha, married Stephen Davis, of Mississippi; Polly, married Oliver Cross, of Hanover county, Virginia; Nancy, mar- ried Jesse Yarbrough, of Hanover county, Virginia ; Elizabeth, married John B. Green, of Hanover county, Virginia ; Susan, mar- ried Samuel Perrin, of Hanover county, Vir- ginia ; Harriet, married John Joiner Wing- field, of Albemarle county. \'irginia ; Emily R.. married Archer B. Timberlake, of Albe- marle county, V^irginia ; Amanda, married Thomas H. Goddin, of Richmond, Virginia ; Nathaniel Fleming, married (first) Mary Etta Crenshaw, (second) Elizabeth Cren- shaw, sister of his first wife ; Hector, of whom further.

(IV) Hector Bowe. son of Nathaniel (2) Bowe. was born in Hanover county, Vir- ginia, on the old homestead farm, and in the house which was also the birthplace of his father and grandfather, November 11, 181 1, and died in the same house, Febru- ary 8, 1858. He was a farmer and a manu- facturer of tobacco. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a Whig in politics. He married, in his native county, March 6, 1835, Mary Ursula Ellis, born May 18, 181 2, in Hanover county, Vir- ginia, died June 9, 1893, daughter of Wood- son and Agnes Pleasants (Turner) Bowe, both of English ancestry. Children : Rob- ert Bruce, born February 29, 1836; Amanda Stuart, born November 25. 1837. married John Felix Cross ; A^irginia Selden. born May 26, 1840, married William ]\Iorris Wingfield ; Nathaniel Woodson, of whom further; Boulware Whipple, born May 21, 1846; Emily Rushbrook, born February 27, 1849, married (first) Richard A. Talley, (second) A. Judson Blanton ; Mary Ann, born August 22, 1851. married John J. Dy- son ; Alice Maud, born July 18, 1856, mar- ried John R. Venable.

(V) Nathaniel Woodson Bowe, son of Hector Bowe, was born in old Hanover county, Virginia, in the same house in which his father, grandfather and great-grand- father had been born, and in which his father had died. November 4, 1842. He was educated in private schools and at the Han- over Academy, growing to manhood and en- gaging in farming until the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted in July, 1861, becom- ing a member of Company B, First Virginia