Person Page - 345

     Percy B. Poff was born in October, 1883 at Virginia.² He died before April 16, 1910; In the 1910 Census, his mother listed 6 of her 9 children as living. Percy must have been one of the children who was deceased.³

     Julina O. Poff was born in January, 1885 at Virginia.² She died before April 16, 1910; In the 1910 Census, her mother listed 6 of her 9 children as living. Julina must have been one of the children who was deceased.³

     Monia Ruth "Mona" Poff was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^7,6 Her Social Security Number was 227-58-2654.⁸ She was born on May 5, 1885 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^7,1,8,6 She married Charles McKinley Coates Sr., son of James R. Coates and Elizabeth Unknown, on September 10, 1914 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3,6 As of September 10, 1914,her married name was Coates. Monia Ruth "Mona" Poff died on March 23, 1977 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 91.⁶

     Lucy Mary Maude Poff was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^8,7 She was born on February 21, 1890 at Floyd Co., Virginia; His death certificate has a birth date of Feb 20, 1890.^6,7 She married Joseph Fredrick "Joe" Nichols, son of James Ira "Jim" Nichols and Teressa Marcella "Teressie" King, on November 20, 1921 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,5,8,7 As of November 20, 1921,her married name was Nichols. Lucy Mary Maude Poff died on February 25, 1973 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 83.^8,7 She FLOYD -- Maude Poff Nichols, 83, of Floyd died Sunday, February 25, 1973, in a Roanoke hospital. She was the widow of Joseph F. Nichols. Surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Charles T. Radford, Mrs. Burton S. Radford, Salem, Mrs. Everett R. Walters, Roanoke, Mrs. Irvin D. Murphy, Colorado Springs, Colo., Mrs. Winford Shilling, Vinton; a son, Arthur Nichols, Check; a sister, Mrs. Mona Coates, Copper Hill. The funeral was Tuesday, February 27, 1973, at 2 p.m. at Wood Funeral Chapel with burial in Salem Church Cemetery, Copper Hill. on March 1, 1973.⁸

     William Posey Poff was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,4 He was born on August 29, 1891 at Copper Hill, Floyd Co., Virginia; The Virginia Births and Christenings database has a birth date of Aug 28, 1891 and Aug 27, 1892 and his death certificate has Aug 27, 1891.^1,3,7,4 He died on February 8, 1922 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 30.^1,8,4 He FLOYD COUNTY MAN A SUICIDE WHILE VISITING
Bent Mountain, Feb., 11 - The community was quite shocked Wednesday night to hear of the tragic death of Posey Poff, son of Bill Poff, of Floyd County. The young man had spent the day at the home of his sister, Mrs. Coates, near Copper Hill, and about dark in the evening he went out on the porch and shot himself through the breast, dying an hour later. on February 16, 1922.⁸

     Lemuel Isaac "Lemmy" Poff was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia; His tombstone reads "Va. Militia Pvt. Co. B WWI."^1,10,3 His Social Security Number was 226-16-5621.¹¹ He was born on May 28, 1895 at Copper Hill, Floyd Co., Virginia; The Virginia Births and Christenings database has a birth date of May 27, 1895.^1,12,8,3,11 He died on January 26, 1961 at Manhattan, New York Co., New York, at age 65.^1,10,3,13 He FLOYD - Lemuel I. Poff, 65, formerly of Floyd, died last week in New York City. Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Monia Coates and Mrs. Maude Nichols, both of Copper Hill; Mrs. Cora Hollins, Floyd. Funeral will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Salem Primitive Baptist Church, Floyd County, conducted by Elders ODell Thompson and Ottie Conner. Burial will be in the church cemetery. on February 6, 1961.¹⁰

     Herman Curtis Poff was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2 He was born on October 29, 1899 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ He died on May 20, 1922 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 22.^1,2

     Cornelius Booth was buried at Woodlawn National Cemetery, 1825 Davis Street, Elmira, Chemung Co., New York; Buried in grave 619.⁴ He The April 30 to May 6, 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville is best remembered as General Robert E. Lee's "perfect battle" because of his risky decision to divide his army in the presence of a much larger enemy force that resulted in a significant Confederate victory over Union forces led by General Joseph Hooker's Army of the Potomac.

Also remembered from the Battle of Chancellorsville was the mortal wounding of Lieutenant General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson to friendly fire, a loss that Lee likened to "losing my right arm."

Less remembered are the combined Confederate and Union forces loss of 30,500 men who were killed, wounded, captured or missing.

Even less remembered are the nearly 2,000 Confederate soldiers who were captured at the Battle of Chancellorsville, nearly all of them ending up being sent to the dreaded Union prisoner-of-war camp in Elmira, New York.

Of the more than 12,100 Confederate soldiers who were incarcerated at Elmira Prison in the 15 months of its horrid existence; 2,963 of them died from a combination of malnutrition, continued exposure to harsh winter weather, and disease from the poor sanitary conditions.

And on the 12th day of October, 1864-150 years ago today-one of the last casualties of the Battle of Chancellorsville gave up his life in Elmira Prison, was carried to a field, and then buried.

His name was Cornelius Booth(e), a young Virginia man of 29 years of age who left behind his wife Synthia, his daughter Missouri, his parents Isaac and Mary, and many other brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins.

We will never know of the suffering Cornelius endured before his death from dysentery that cold October morning in Elmira Prison, but we do know that his last thoughts were of his God, his mother, his wife and daughter, and of his home in Virginia he loved "beyond all measure."

For his ultimate sacrifice upon the field of battle, the past 150 years has seen Cornelius's life remembered through the generations by his family, with today being just another milestone on our family's journey of remembrance of him that will always continue.

And if his last words could have been heard, I imagine they would be similar to those of one of his unknown compatriots who upon his last breath uttered:

My mother! God help her! Her grief will be wild,
When she hears the mad soldiers have murdered her child;
But tell her 'twill be one sweet chime on my knell
That the "Flag of my Country" now waves where I fell.

It is well -it is well - thus to die in my youth,
A martyr to freedom, to justice and truth!
Farewell to earth's hope, precious dreams of my heart,
My life's going out, but my love shall depart
With me on the wings that my soul has unfurled,
Going up -soft, sweet - to yon beautiful world.

[Cornelius Booth(e) enlisted as a Private in Company, B 42nd Virginia Infantry on March 13, 1862, and was captured on May 3, 1863, at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He is buried in the Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, New York.]³ He Served as a Private, Company B, 42nd Virginia Infantry. Enlisted Mar 13, 1862 at Floyd Co. Court House, age 22. Wounded Aug 9, 1862 at Cedar Run. Present Dec 31, 1862. Captured May 3, 1863 Chancellorsville. Present Oct 1863. Captured May 12, 1864 Spotsylvania Court House. Confined May 18, 1864 at Point Lookout. There on Jul 10, 1864, expressed a desire to take the oath of allegiance and go to Kanawha Valley (West Virginia) because he was "tired of fighting for the South." Subsequently confined at Elmira, New York on Jul 26, 1864. In Aug 1864, expressed a desire not to be paroled or exchanged; sought U.S. government employment, claiming to be a "good blacksmith." On Sep 15, 1864 again expressed a desire to remain in the North, saying that he volunteered for Confederate States Army service only to avoid conscription.⁵ He was born circa 1835 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,2 He married Cynthia Ann Jewell on August 25, 1856 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ Cornelius Booth died on October 12, 1864 at Elmira, Chemung Co., New York; Died of chronic diarrhea.³

     William Cornelius Boothe was buried at Booth Family Cemetery (also known as Stuart Cemetery), Morris Vest Lane to Ida Vest Lane, off Rt. 221 About 10 miles north of Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ He was born on April 10, 1831 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,2 He married Mary W. Stevens circa 1857.^2,6 William Cornelius Boothe married Cynthia Ann Jewell on May 18, 1871 at Floyd Co., Virginia.⁴ William Cornelius Boothe died on December 5, 1907 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 76.^1,2

     Cynthia Ann Jewell was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2 She was born on November 25, 1831 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^3,4,1,2 She married Cornelius Booth, son of Isaac Abner Boothe and Mary "Polly" Conner, on August 25, 1856 at Floyd Co., Virginia.³ As of August 25, 1856,her married name was Booth. Cynthia Ann Jewell married William Cornelius Boothe, son of Isaac Abner Boothe and Mary "Polly" Conner, on May 18, 1871 at Floyd Co., Virginia.³ Cynthia Ann Jewell died on March 26, 1917 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 85.^1,2

     John Emory Yates was buried at George Yates Cemetery, Rt. 777, about 300 yards south of Rt. 58, Patrick Co., Virginia.^1,2 His Social Security Number was 231-07-5284.⁵ He was born on May 7, 1879 at Stuart, Patrick Co., Virginia.^1,4,2 He married Katie Mae "Kitty" Ayres, daughter of Charles L. Ayres, circa 1909.^1,6 John Emory Yates and Katie Mae "Kitty" Ayres were divorced before April 11, 1940.⁷ John Emory Yates died on March 24, 1963 at Stuart, Patrick Co., Virginia, at age 83.^1,2

     Eva Sarah Elizabeth Booth was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.² She was born on August 26, 1861 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4,2 She married Peter Thomas Jefferson Boyd on September 27, 1883 at Floyd Co., Virginia.³ As of September 27, 1883,her married name was Boyd. Eva Sarah Elizabeth Booth married James Matthew/Madison "Mat" Collins, son of Thomas Collins and Elizabeth Boothe, on January 16, 1919 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^5,2 As of January 16, 1919,her married name was Collins. Eva Sarah Elizabeth Booth died on April 30, 1935 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 73.^1,2

     Peter Thomas Jefferson Boyd was born in August, 1861 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^1,3 He married Eva Sarah Elizabeth Booth, daughter of Cornelius Booth and Cynthia Ann Jewell, on September 27, 1883 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ Peter Thomas Jefferson Boyd died before April 23, 1910; His wife Eva was enumerated as a widow in the 1910 Census.⁵

     Annie Wyatt Hall was buried at Roselawn Burial Park, 103 Clearview Drive, Martinsville, Virginia.^1,7 Her Social Security Number was 225-26-9544.⁸ She was born on September 7, 1896 at Floyd Co., Virginia.⁸ As of circa 1924,her married name was Dillon.⁹ She married Harvil Trotter "H.T." Dillon circa 1924.^2,9,3,10 Annie Wyatt Hall died on April 12, 1976 at Martinsville, Virginia, at age 79.¹ She MARTINSVILLE - Funeral services for Mrs. Annie H. Dillon, 79, will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Starling Avenue Baptist Church. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Mrs. Dillon, of 906 Myrtle Rd., died Monday night in a local nursing home. The body is at Stone Funeral Home. She was born in Floyd County, a daughter of the late Doc R. Hall and Sarah Prilliam Hall. Mrs. Dillon was a charter member of Starling Avenue Baptist Church. She is survived by three sons, Curtis Dillon and Aubrey Dillon, both of Martinsville and Dwight Dillon, Bassett; two brothers, Posey Hall, Salem and Claude Hall, Roanoke; and six grandchildren. on April 14, 1976.¹

     Infant Iddings was buried at Iddings Cemetery, near intersection of Daniel's Run Road and Huffville Road, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ She died in 1878 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ She was born in 1878 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹

     Infant Iddings was buried at Iddings Cemetery, near intersection of Daniel's Run Road and Huffville Road, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2 She was born on October 16, 1879 at Floyd Co., Virginia.² She died on November 8, 1879 at Floyd Co., Virginia.²

     Jonathan H. Whitlock was born circa 1828 at Montgomery Co., Virginia. He married Elizabeth Jane Gardner on March 12, 1851 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ Jonathan H. Whitlock died before June, 1900.

     Elizabeth Jane Gardner was born in June, 1828 at Virginia. She married Jonathan H. Whitlock, son of Henry Wilbern Whitlock and Mary Elizabeth Graham, on March 12, 1851 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ As of March 12, 1851,her married name was Whitlock.

     Mary Ellen Newman was buried at Nowlin Cemetery, on a ridge above the Mayo river about 200 yards west of Rt. 680 where it crosses the Mayo river, Patrick Co., Virginia.^1,2 She was born on March 4, 1846 at Patrick Co., Virginia.^1,2 She married Beverly Arnold Yeattes, son of John Yeardley Yates and Elizabeth Feline Lipford, on March 3, 1870 at Patrick Co., Virginia.¹ As of March 3, 1870,her married name was Yeattes. Mary Ellen Newman died on June 18, 1916 at Patrick Co., Virginia, at age 70.^1,2

     India Pearl Craghead was buried at Huffville Union Church Cemetery, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.^6,3,7 She was born on July 2, 1907 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,8,6 She married Alton Harry Vest, son of Jessie David Vest and Etta "Ettie" Vest, on April 30, 1932 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,8,3,9 As of April 30, 1932,her married name was Vest. India Pearl Craghead died on September 17, 1954 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 47.^8,6,3,7 She Mrs. India Craghead Vest, 47, of Check, died in a Roanoke hospital yesterday. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Adelene Barnes, Roanoke; one son, Monroe Vest, Check; three brothers, Eldridge S. Craghead, Pittsburgh, Pa; Ellett J. Craghead, Fincastle; T. C. Craghead, San Diego, Calif; two sisters, Mrs. Jasper Whitenack, Check; Mrs. A. L. Underwood, Roanoke. Funeral will be at Huffville Methodist Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. on September 18, 1954.⁷

     George Daniel Whitenack WHITENACK, George D., 90, passed away June 25, 2011 in Fairborn, OH. He was a retired master sergeant in the U.S. Army after 26 years, and a repairman for G.E. He is survived by his son, Daniel Whiteneck; daughters, Susan Corbin and Laurie Horn; sister, Irene Brown; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.⁹ His Social Security Number was 227-14-1775.¹⁰ He was buried at Louisville Memorial Gardens (West), 4400 Dixie Highway, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky.¹¹ He married Marvel Florence Berry.¹² George Daniel Whitenack was born on July 10, 1920 at Fincastle, Botetourt Co., Virginia.^10,2,3,13 He married Gladys Louise Gunter on May 9, 1942 at Simpsons, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ George Daniel Whitenack and Gladys Louise Gunter were divorced on January 18, 1954.¹ George Daniel Whitenack died on June 25, 2011 at Fairborn, Greene Co., Ohio, at age 90.^9,10,13

     His Social Security Number was 223-28-7341.¹² Robert Lawrence Whitenack was buried at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW. 102nd Ave., Bushnell, Sumter Co., Florida.^13,6 He married Doris Virginia Scott.¹ Robert Lawrence Whitenack married Nellie Elizabeth Boomhower.¹ Robert Lawrence Whitenack was born on June 4, 1922 at Troutville, Botetourt Co., Virginia.^{12,1,13,2,3,4,5,6} He died on November 26, 1993 at Lady Lake, Lake Co., Florida, at age 71.^12,1,13,5,6 He Whitenack, Robert Lawrence, 71, of 1619 Hilton Head Boulevard, Lady Lake, Fla., died Friday, November 26, 1993. Mr. Whitenack was a retired electrical department Supervisor with DuPont Manufacturing in Martinsville. Born in Troutville, he moved to Lady Lake, Fla. in August, 1987 from Collinsville. He was a member of Morrison United Methodist Church in Leesburg, Fla. He was active in the Hi-12 Club of Lady Lake, Fla., the Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Penn., Kazim Shrine Temple, Roanoke and the Crescent Masonic Lodge #576 F. & A.M., Pittsburgh, Penn. He was an Army Air Force Veteran of World War II. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris Scott Whitenack in 1990. Survivors include his wife, Nellie S. Whitenack of Lady Lake, Fla; one daughter, Deborah W. Nix of Greensboro, N.C; one stepdaughter, Jan Smith of Chesterfield; one stepson, Steven Slager of Mechanicsville; two brothers, Harold of Roanoke and George of Louisville, Ken; two sisters, Irene Brown of Sanford, N.C. and Helen Marshall of Tampa, Fla; three grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; one stepgreat-granddaughter. on November 28, 1993.¹

     Nellie Irene Whitenack was born on February 20, 1924 at Botetourt Co., Virginia.^3,8 As of November 17, 1949,her married name was Brown.³ She married Lubert Felty Brown on November 17, 1949 at Hillsville, Carroll Co., Virginia.^9,3

     Her Social Security Number was 231-24-7367.⁸ Mary Helen Whitenack was born on March 6, 1926 at Troutville, Botetourt Co., Virginia.^8,9,1,2 As of November 21, 1950,her married name was Marshall.¹ She married Robert Lee Marshall on November 21, 1950 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.¹ Mary Helen Whitenack and Robert Lee Marshall were divorced on October 13, 1972 at Hillsborough Co., Florida.¹⁰ Mary Helen Whitenack died on October 1, 1996 at Hillsborough Co., Florida, at age 70.^8,9

     Alton Harry Vest was buried at Huffville Union Church Cemetery, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4,6 He was born on March 14, 1912 at Floyd Co., Virginia; His death certificate has a birth year of 1911.^1,2,3,4,5 He married India Pearl Craghead, daughter of Joseph David Stapleton "Stape" Craghead and Matilda Ellen Whitlock, on April 30, 1932 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2,4,6 Alton Harry Vest Alton Harry Vest, 42, died yesterday at his home near Check. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. India Craghead Vest; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse D. Vest of near Check; a daughter Miss Adelene Vest and a son, Monroe Vest, both of Check. Other survivors are: a brother, Eslie Vest of Roanoke; five sisters, Mrs. Henry Link, Mrs. Walters, both of Check; Mrs. Hoad Poff, Mrs. Jasper Walters, both of Roanoke; and Mrs. Frank Huff of Radford. Funeral will be tomorrow in Huffville Church with burial in the church cemetery. on August 1, 1953.⁶ He died on August 1, 1953 at Check, Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 41.^2,3,4,6

     Edith Adelene Vest was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.³ She was born on July 9, 1932 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,5,4 She married James Marion Barnes, son of John Robert Barnes and Willie H. Kelley, on November 7, 1953 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,5,2,3 As of November 7, 1953,her married name was Barnes. Edith Adelene Vest died on March 11, 2016 at Virginia at age 83.³ She Edith Adelene Barnes, 83, of Roanoke, went home to be with the Lord, Friday, March 11, 2016. She was preceded by her husband, James Marion Barnes, parents, Alton and India C. Vest, son, Roger J. Barnes, and an infant sister, Mabel E. Vest. Edith retired from Maid Bess after 22 years of service and was a former employee of Rowe Furniture Company. Surviving are a daughter-in-law, Dianne Barnes; grandchildren, Joel Barnes and wife Iliana, Meghan Biggert and husband Nick, Travis Overstreet and wife Val; special niece, Debbie Smith and husband Larry, and their children, Deana and her family; nephew, Danny Smith and his family; great-grandchildren, Ryleigh Overstreet, Lucas Overstreet, and Isabella; brother, David M. Vest; niece, Annette Vest; and a nephew, David W. "DW" Vest. A graveside service will be conducted in Sherwood Memorial Park. on March 13, 2016.³

     Mabel Ethelene Thelma Vest was buried at Huffville Union Church Cemetery, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,2 She was born on August 19, 1933 at Floyd Co., Virginia; Her gravestone has a birth date of Aug 8, 1933.^1,2 She died on October 3, 1933 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4,1,2