Edmundson, Henry, Major, 1774-1847
Dates
- Existence: 1774 - 1847
Biographical Note
Henry Edmundson was born in 1774 in Pennsylvania and moved, when quite young to Botetourt County, Virginia with his mother. After marrying Peggy King in 1799, he moved to Montgomery County and purchased land there in 1801. Having quickly built an estate, he served in the Virginia General Assembly, representing Montgomery County on three occasions between 1818 and 1827. He also served as sheriff of Montgomery County in 1842 and 1843. On 30 August 1828, Edmundson, in partnership with Elijah McClanahan, purchased from George Hancock, Jr. the Alleghany Turnpike--a seven-mile long road that ran from the confluence of the north and south forks of the Roanoke River to the top of Alleghany Mountain near Christiansburg, VA--along with two adjacent tracts of land. Edmundson also acquired the estate, "Fotheringay," which would become his residence. McClanahan and Edmundson owned the Turnpike until it was sold to the Southwestern Turnpike Company in 1847. Later that same year, Edmundson died. His son, Henry Alonzo, born on 14 June 1814, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1849 to 1861 and as a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate Army.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Henry Edmundson Letters
The Henry Edmundson Letters contain nine letters, eight of which were written to Edmundson and one, the earliest of the letters, written by Edmundson in 1814 to General John Preston. The senders include William Ballard Preston; Francis H. Smith, superintendent of Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.); Bernard Peyton; Isaac White; and Joseph Robert Woods.