John Fox, enslaved at The Bower by the Dandridges became a teamster with the Rockbridge Artillery and was present at the surrender at Appomattox. He also had the unofficial task of keeping the highly impulsive Adam Stephen Dandridge III from hurting himself and others, besides the enemy. After the war, his industry and strength of character was well known. His timber was used to build St. Paul’s Church in Kearneysville. He had several farms. over the years, one being the land where today the USDA Fruit research station is located on Wiltshire Road.
The full documented story of the remarkable John Fox with support from his descendant Charles Fox follows. MORE. . .
John Wesley Seibert, like Fox was lauded, honored and prosperous when he died. with ministers from three churches white and black, giving eulogies at the Africa church in Shepherdstown; and the wagon bringing his earthly remains to their final resting place at Rose Hill Cemetery was followed by all surviving men from Company B of the 2nd Virginia Infantry regiment, for whom he foraged food and cooked under the relentless – merciless even – demands of their commander Stonewall Jackson.
“Wes” Seibert’s full documented life story follows on civilwarscholars.com. MORE. . .
FREEDMAN 23-YEAR-OLD STEPHEN GOENS – COOK FOR CO. K, 2ND VIRGINIA INFANTRY REG’T
Created / Published 1863 November (Not an image of Stephen Goens), He was a 24-year old mulatto male cook for Company K of the 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment beginning in late 1861. loc.gov
When the war began, Stephen Goens was a free, mulatto, 23-year old boatsman, living with the family of 53-year-old boatsman Lawson and 50-year-old Sarah Goens. Stephen’s birth parents had moved back to Rockingham County in the 1840s. In the summer of 1840, Lawson and Stephen ferried high society types, who had taken a B&O train to Harper’s Ferry, then a MORE. . .
When Dick was a little boy, he was scullion in the kitchen. He carried the wood and water for the cook, and scoured the pots and kettles, and turned the spit when the turkey was roasting, dipping and basting the gravy from the pan. I took him out of the kitchen and put him on the box with me to open gates as I drove about the country. I soon found out that he had a liking for horses, and that he took great pride in his promotion, MORE. . .