Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/601

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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the founder of Lynchburg), married his first cousin, Anna Terrell, and moved to Ten- nessee. 4. Christopher, died young, unmar- ried. 5. Sallie, married, March 3, 1789, Cap- tain Charles Lynch Terrell, her first cousin. Anselm Lynch, son of Colonel Charles and Anna (Terrell) Lynch, was born June 8, 1764, and died February 18, 1826. He married, November 24, 1799, Mrs. Susan- iiah Baldwin, widow of Zebulon Baldwin, and daughter of John and Mary (Moorman) Miller. She died in i8o8. It is said of An- selm Lynch that when only eighteen years old he slipped away from home without permission and followed his father to North Carolina, reaching there on the eve of the battle of Guilford Court House, in which he was wont to boast that he too killed his "Red Coat." In after years he like his father became prominent in his county and state, and served several terms in the legislature. Children: i. Charles Henry, born Novem- ber 3, 1800. died March 24, 1875. 2. Mary Anna, born June 23, 1802, died February i, 1892; married, March 5, 1834, Colonel James Griffin Bearing (see Dearing line). 3 John Pleasant, born December 25, 1803, died December 31, 1865. 4. Sarah Aliller, born January 17, 1806, died June 18. 1866 5 Susan, born May 8, 1808, died October 3- 1837-

Eugene Withers. The \\'ithers family were early settlers in Virginia, first in Staf- ford, then in Fauquier county, where lived Thomas Withers, who had nine sons who scattered to other parts of \^irginia and adjoining states. Eugene Withers, of Dan- ville, is a descendant of Thomas, through his son, W'illiam Withers, this branch set- tling in North Carolina. Eugene Withers is a son of Elijah Benton, and a grandson of Elijah Keen \\'ithers, a planter of Caswell county, North Carolina, who died in 1870, having been born with the century. He w as a man of prosperity and influence, held in high esteem. He married Mary Lawson, 1 orn in Rockingham county. North Caro- lina, the mother of three sons and five daughters.

Elijah Benton \\'ithers was born on his father's farm in Caswell county, North Carolina, December 31, 1836, and died in Danville, Virginia, April 23, 1898. He grew up on the home farm, was given a good education, and became a lawyer. At the

outbreak of the war between the states he enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment, North Carolina Volunteer Infantry, and rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was wounded at the battle of South Mountain, but recovered from his injuries, and after the war resumed the practice of law in his native state. In 1876 he moved to Danville, X'irginia, was admitted to the Virginia bar, and practiced in all state and Federal courts of the district until his death in 1898. He was a man of lofty principles, a lawyer of learning and ability, and stood high both as a lawyer and citizen. In 1874 he was a member of the legislature of North Caro- l:na, and in 1875 was a delegate to the con- stitutional convention that framed a new constitution for the state of North Caro- lina. He bore a prominent part in the pub- lic affairs of North Carolina during the re- construction period, as he had previously borne a soldier's part in the field, and did all in his pow.er to bring order and peace out of the chaotic conditions that existed under "carpet bag" rule. Colonel Withers married Mary Ann Price, born in Caswell county. North Carolina, in 1847, died there in January, 1869, daughter of Daniel Smith Price, born in Caswell county, in 1801, died in August, 1872. a farmer. Daniel S. Price married Eliza Frances Stokes, born in the same county, died in Danville, Virginia, in May, 1887, aged seventy years. Children of Elijah Benton Withers : Eugene, of whom further ; Daniel Price, died in in- fancy. Colonel Withers married (second) Lemma Price. December, 1875. '^"d had four children by this marriage : Daniel Price, Mary W. .Starling. Elijah Benton, Jr., Ger- trude W. Fogle. Mrs. Lemma P. Withers died November 5. 1907.

Eugene Withers, eldest son of Lieutenant- Colonel Elijah Benton Withers, was born on his grandfather's plantation in Caswell county. North Carolina, January 22, 1867. He was nine years of age when his father moved to Danville, Virginia, having lost his mother and only brother at the birth of the latter in January, 1869. He was early educated and prepared for college under private instruction at Danville, then at the University of North Carolina, whence he was graduated from the academic depart- ment in 1888. He was a student at the University of Virginia the session of 1888- 89; then returned to the University of