James Barbour (lawyer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Barbour
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| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Culpeper County, Virginia district |
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| In office January 12, 1852 – December 4, 1853 |
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| Preceded by | John S. Barbour Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Perry J. Eggborn |
| In office December 7, 1857 – September 46 1863 |
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| Preceded by | Perry J. Eggborn |
| Succeeded by | John H. Rixey |
| In office December 5, 1877 – December 3, 1879 |
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| Preceded by | T. B. Nalle |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan C. Gibson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Barbour
February 26, 1828 Catalpa, Culpeper County, Virginia |
| Died | October 29, 1895 (aged 67) Clover Hill, Jeffersonton, Culpeper County, Virginia |
| Resting place | Fairview Cemetery, Culpeper, Virginia |
| Citizenship | United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Fanny Thomas Beckham |
| Relations | John S. Barbour, Jr.(brother), James Barbour and Philip P. Barbour (cousins) |
| Children | Ella B. Barbour Rixey, Mary B. Barbour Wallace, James Byrne Barbour, John Strode Barbour, Edwin Barbour, A. Floyd Barbour, Fanny C. Barbour Beckham |
| Parents | John S. Barbour, Ella A. Byrne |
| Residences | Beauregard, Brandy Station, Culpeper County, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Georgetown College University of Virginia |
| Occupation | lawyer, politician, planter, military officer, newspaper editor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861-1863 |
| Rank |  Major |
| Unit | staff of Gen. Richard S. Ewell |
James Barbour (born February 26, 1828 – died October 29, 1895) was an important figure in Virginia history. He was a lawyer, a farmer who owned a large plantation, a politician, and a military officer during the American Civil War.
Barbour represented Culpeper County, Virginia in the Virginia General Assembly, which is like Virginia's state parliament. He also took part in important meetings like the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850 and the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861. These conventions helped decide Virginia's future. He was also a delegate for Virginia at the 1860 Democratic National Convention. During the Civil War, he served as a major in the Confederate States Army.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Barbour was born on February 26, 1828, at a place called Catalpa in Culpeper County, Virginia. His family was very well-known in Virginia and had lived there for a long time. His great-grandfather, also named James Barbour, was one of the first in the family to settle in the area.
His parents were John S. Barbour, who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Ella A. Byrne.
James Barbour went to Georgetown College for a few months in 1840. Later, he studied law at the University of Virginia School of Law from 1841 to 1842. He continued his law studies with John Tayloe Lomax in Fredericksburg, Virginia. By 1844, he was allowed to practice law in Virginia.
Political Career Before the Civil War
In 1850, people from Culpeper, Greene, Madison, and Orange Counties chose James Barbour to be one of their three representatives at the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850. This convention helped create new rules for Virginia's government.
In the years leading up to the American Civil War, voters in Culpeper County elected James Barbour to the Virginia House of Delegates. This was a part-time job. He served from 1852 to 1853, taking over from his brother, John S. Barbour, Jr.. He was elected again for the 1857–58 session and then for the 1859–60 and 1861 sessions.
By 1860, James Barbour owned 13 enslaved people. He also hired two older enslaved people to help with his plantation while he worked as a lawyer.
Barbour was one of the delegates who represented Virginia at the 1860 Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, Maryland. A year later, he was chosen to represent Culpeper County at the 1861 Virginia secession convention. This convention decided if Virginia would leave the United States.
Family Life
James Barbour married Fanny Thomas Beckham on September 1, 1857. She was the daughter of Coleman Coals Beckham and Mary C. Beckham. James and Fanny had seven children:
- Ella B. Barbour Rixey (born 1858)
- Mary B. Barbour Wallace (born 1860)
- James Byrne Barbour (1864–1926)
- John Strode Barbour (1866–1952)
- Edwin Barbour (1868–1902)
- A. Floyd Barbour (born 1868)
- Fanny C. Barbour Beckham (born 1874)
The Barbour family lived at a place called Beauregard, which was near Brandy Station in Culpeper County, Virginia.
Role in the American Civil War
During the American Civil War, the people of Culpeper County once again elected James Barbour to the Virginia House of Delegates. He served during the sessions in 1861, 1862, and early 1863.
After Virginia decided to leave the United States, Barbour joined the Confederate States Army. He became a major and worked on the staff of General Richard S. Ewell. Barbour resigned from the army on January 30, 1863. Some sources say he resigned because he had a disagreement with General Jubal Anderson Early, while others say it was due to poor health.
About six months after Barbour resigned, a very large cavalry battle, the Battle of Brandy Station, happened on and around his family's land. The Beauregard mansion, where his family lived, is now known as the Graffiti House. It got this name because soldiers from both the Union Army and the Confederate States Army wrote on its walls.
Life After the War
After the Civil War ended, James Barbour became involved in the newspaper business. On July 15, 1867, he gained control of the Richmond Daily Enquirer and Examiner newspaper and became its editor. He owned the newspaper until January 30, 1870, when it was bought by a company connected to the Pennsylvania Railroad.
In 1877, Barbour returned to the Virginia House of Delegates for one term. Later, in 1885, he filled a vacant seat in the House of Delegates and was then re-elected for the 1887–1888 session.
Death
James Barbour passed away from pneumonia on October 29, 1895. He died at Clover Hill, near Jeffersonton in Culpeper County, Virginia.
