Home of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical …...20-year journey documenting regional coverlets, the fascinating stories she heard along the way, and the Scots-Irish migration

THE HERITAGE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER Home of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society

Published Quarterly by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society

The Genetic Relationships of Early Bowman Families

of Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties of Virginia

Introduction:

Bowman (Bauman) was a fairly common surname

among early settlers of Rockingham and Shenandoah

Counties in Virginia. The prominence of the George and

Mary Hite Bowman family has overshadowed research on

other Bowmans. Researchers have too often attempted to

shoehorn their ancestry into the George and Mary Hite

Bowman line. It is true that early pioneers frequently trav-

eled with and lived near relatives and friends, but some

genealogists have attempted to force relationships among

these Bowmans based solely on their proximity to each

other. The internet and other genealogical records are filled

with asserted relationships among these Bowmans. The

result is confusion and flawed genealogy.

Written records available from the 18th century provide

evidence that Bowmans came to Shenandoah and Rocking-

ham at different times and from different places. Who were

these Bowmans and what truly was the relationship, if any,

among them? This article focuses on five early Bowman

families thought by some to have been related; however,

recent YDNA testing on direct line male descendants pro-

vides significant new information as to the relationships, or

lack thereof, among these early Bowmans. YDNA tests the

patriarchal line since the Y chromosome passes from father

to son virtually unchanged.

Any effort at genealogical research and DNA testing is

a work in process. New information will surface. This arti-

cle presents what is known as of the last half of 2015. The

authors welcome additional information—especially

corrections!

Brief Highlight of Five Bowman Families for Whom

YDNA Results are Known:

1. George Bowman (1699 -1768) and Mary Hite came

to the Valley in the early 1730s from Pennsylvania with

George’s father-in-law, Joist Hite. George owned land

along Cedar Creek north of Strasburg, with a portion of his

one thousand acres lying in Warren County. The Bowman

house, which still stands north of Strasburg, is known as

Fort Bowman or Harmony Hall. George also purchased

1000 acres on Linville Creek in Rockingham County. He

left this land to sons Jacob and John, who sold it upon their

father’s death. George and Mary had thirteen children, six

of whom were sons. Three sons did not have any known

children – Joseph, George, and John.

Sons Joseph (1752), Abraham (1748), and John (1738)

became frontiersmen in Kentucky in the late 1770s. All

three received large land grants from their service in the

Revolutionary War. Isaac (1757) and George (1747) re-

mained in Virginia while Jacob (1733), who had military

service during the French and Indian War, moved to South

Carolina. The family’s accomplishments were substantial

leading to a well-earned prominence. While some of the

information in John Wayland’s book, The Bowman Family,

has now been eclipsed, the book significantly elevated the

public’s awareness of the George and Mary Hite Bowman

family. Such prominence and awareness encouraged others

to claim ancestry. [For more information about George and

Mary Hite Bowman, Roquey Jobe and his work is a good

place to start. Mr. Jobe can be contacted through the Hite

Family Association.]

2. George Bowman (1712-1786) and Barbara Keller

came to the Valley around 1770 from Berks County, Penn-

sylvania, purchasing land in 1772 just north of Timberville

in Rockingham County. George and Barbara were born in

Bodigheim, Baden, Germany, and came to Pennsylvania in

1749. George and Barbara had six children. We know three

sons reached adulthood: George (1742), Elias (1746), and

John (1750).

George (1742), who may have relocated to Shenandoah

County, Virginia, had two sons, George (1765) and Nicho-

las (1769), who were living in the Forestville area of Shen-

andoah County in the late 1700s. Son George (1765) and

his wife Elizabeth Roush relocated to Brown County, Ohio,

around 1800. About the same time Nicholas (1769) and his

wife Catherine Derrick relocated to Sevier County, Tennes-

see, on Flat Creek at Bird’s Crossing, and later moved on to

Henderson County, Tennessee.

Elias (1746) left Pennsylvania, settled first in Berkeley,

West Virginia, and then relocated to Washington County,

Tennessee, outside Jonesborough.

Volume 38, No. 1 Winter 2016

Continued on page 4

By Bernie Bowman and Marilyn Hering

2016 EVENTS

Colorful & Cozy: The Woven Art of the Coverlet, featured exhibit on display through mid-March.

Third Thursday Talk, February 18th, 7 pm: The Archaeol-

ogy of Shenandoah Valley Native Americans: Deep Time and

History, with JMU Archaeology & Anthropology Professor

Carole Nash, by popular demand. Free.

Special Event Sunday, February 21, 2 pm: Hobby Robinson

Exhibit Preview and Poetry Reading, with Sara Robinson.

Book signing and refreshments too! Free.

Special Event Saturday, March 12, 11 am: Appalachian

Coverlets: Heirlooms for the Next Generation, with Kathleen

Curtis Wilson. Come early or stay late to view the Coverlets

Exhibit. Refreshments. Free.

Third Thursday Talk, March 17, 7 pm: The Kentucky Rifle

in the Shenandoah Valley, Past and Present, with Longrifle

Historian and Restorer Frank Kobilis. Hear about pioneer fire-

arm history and view examples from Kobilis’ collection. Free.

Saturday, April 9, 10am-4pm, Dayton Spring Arts & Crafts

Redbud Festival. Stop by the museum to see what’s new in the

galleries and help identify photos in the Hobby Robinson

collection.

Third Thursday Talk, April 21, 7 pm: TBD

Third Thursday Talk, May 19, 7 pm: Reading Lousy Old

Handwriting, with Author Dorothy Boyd-Bragg, who will

share tips from her years of research. Free.

Third Thursday Talk, June 16, 7 pm: Notes on folks in the

Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War, with Irvin Hess, who

always shares new stories with his local history passion. Free.

Donations are encouraged to help keep events free.

Do you have a program suggestion? Please let us know!

The Heritage Museum Hours

Monday—Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Seasonal Sundays through November, 1-5 pm

Office closed on Saturday and Sunday

Telephone: (540) 879-2616 Email: [email protected]

ValleyHeritageMuseum.org HeritageMuseumStore.com

Trustees

Resident Historian

Dale MacAllister

HRHS Staff

Executive Director: Penny Imeson

Administrator: Margaret Hotchner

Staff: Amy Kiracofe, Juanita Wysong

Museum Assistant: Tom Knight

Newsletter Submission Deadlines

All articles are subject to editing. Ideas for feature articles

must be submitted in advance of the article. We reserve the

right not to use unsolicited feature articles. Genealogical que-

ries welcome.

Submissions may be emailed to

[email protected]

or mailed to HRHS, P.O. Box 716, Dayton VA 22821

Spring April 22

Summer July 22

Fall October 21

THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Our Wish List

Page 2 Volume 38, No. 1

Charlie Collette Beau Dickenson

David Ehrenpreis Lisa Hawkins

LJ Purcell Lew Taylor

Wes Graves, Chairman

Irvin Hess, Vice-Chairman

George Homan, Treasurer

Dana Fenner, Secretary


Volume 38, No. 1 Page 3

SPECIAL EVENT

Sunday, February 21, 2016, 2 pm

Hobby Robinson Photography Exhibit Preview and

Poetry Reading & Book Signing by Sara Robinson

Sara Robinson retired from a technical career and

discovered the life of a poet. She writes the poetry col-

umn, “Poetry Matters” for Southern Writers Magazine.

Her inaugural poetry book, Two Little Girls in a Wad-

ing Pool, nominated in 2012 for the Library of Virginia

Literary Awards, told of her life experiences from

growing up in a small town (Elkton, VA) to how she

sees the world today. Two of her poems contained in

the book won prizes from the Blue Ridge Writers

Chapter and the Virginia Writers Club. Her poems

have appeared in the online journal of the Poetry

Society of Virginia, Piedmont Virginian magazine,

Poetica, the 2013 Blue

Ridge Anthology, and

other anthologies. Her

first published work,

Love Always, Hobby

and Jessie (2009) is a

memoir about her fa-

mous photographer

father and his marriage

to her enigmatic

mother.

Sara will be reading from her

latest poetry book, Sometimes the

Little Town, inspired by her

father’s photographs. Copies of

the book will be available for

purchase during the reception and

book signing. Attendees will pre-

view the new Hobby Robinson

photography exhibit.

Local Note: The History Essay Contest is now open for students in grades 6-8 (public, private, and home-

school) with a deadline of April 4th. All information can be found on valleyheritagemuseum.org under

“Programs.” We extend special thanks to award sponsor, the Darrin-McHone Charitable Foundation.

The Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society seeks to preserve, enrich, and maintain the historical record

of our communities. Through your bequest or other planned gift you will help ensure this valuable institution

continues its mission of historical preservation, education, and research. You may choose from many planned

giving opportunities, all of which can be tailored to meet your financial and philanthropic goals, including a

gift of securities or listing HRHS as a life insurance beneficiary. Please contact Penny for more information:

[email protected] or (540) 879-2616. Thank you for allowing your legacy to save history.

SPECIAL EVENT

Saturday, March 12, 2016, 11 am

Appalachian Coverlets: Heirlooms

for the Next Generation

People in southern Appalachia

have always treasured the woven cov-

erlet; it is part of their cultural history.

Many early settlers stayed in the

homeplace from generation to genera-

tion and carefully kept family lore and family textiles

intact. Speaker Kathleen Curtis Wilson will share her

20-year journey documenting regional coverlets, the

fascinating stories she heard along the way, and the

Scots-Irish migration.

Kathleen Curtis Wilson is a Fellow at the Virginia

Foundation for the Humanities, working on her forth-

coming book, An Enslaved Woman & Her Dressmaker

Daughter. Wilson is the author of Irish People, Irish

Linen (2011); Textile Art from Southern Appalachia:

The Quiet Work of Women (2001); and Uplifting the

South—Mary Mildred Sullivan’s Legacy for Appala-

chia (2006). A renowned authority on Appalachian

crafts, Wilson is craft section editor for the Encyclope-

dia of Appalachia (2006). In 2014, she wrote the

history of the Southern Industrial Educational Associa-

tion, Inc. 1905-1926, and compiled a digital resource of

the organization’s 51 issues of its Quarterly Magazine.

Wilson travels between her homes in California and

Virginia.

Make it a Bedcover Celebration! Come early to

view the Colorful & Cozy coverlet exhibit so that you

have time after the presentation to enjoy refreshments

or lunch before heading to the Virginia Quilt Museum

lecture by Kyra Hicks on Franklin Roosevelt’s Postage

Stamp Quilt at 1:30 pm in Harrisonburg.

For quilt lecture details visit virginiaquiltmuseum.org

or call (540) 433-3818.

Sara Robinson’s selfie with her father’s Graflex camera.


John (1750), the only son born in Pennsylvania, relocat-

ed to Virginia with his parents. The house that George

(1712) and John (1750) built on their Virginia property was

preserved through the years. In 2005 it was dismantled and

reconstructed as a permanent display at the Frontier Culture

Museum in Staunton, Virginia.

George (1712) and Barbara were affiliated with Raders

Lutheran Church outside Timberville, while their grand-

sons, George (1765) and Nicholas (1769), were affiliated

with Solomons Lutheran/Reformed Church in Forestville.

[For further information about the George (1712) and Bar-

bara Keller Bowman family, consider co-author Bernie

Bowman’s book, George and Barbara Bowman: Immi-

grants and Bowman House Builders.]

An additional name worth noting is Henry Bowman

(1773) One paper trail claims he is the grandson of Chris-

tian Bowman (1698). Another claims he is grandson of

George Adam Bowman (1724). Henry married Sabrina

Pence in Shenandoah County and then moved to Adams

County, Ohio, in 1800. YDNA results conclude that Henry

(1773) is related to the George Bowman (1712) line, but

there is no paper trail evidence to support that relationship.

3. Christian Bowman (1698-1763) of Germanic descent

came to the Valley in the mid-1730s, settled on Sandy

Hook, just south of Strasburg in Shenandoah County. Later,

about 1750, he relocated to the mouth of Narrow Passage

Creek just north of Edinburg, in the same county. Christian

(1698) established a line of Bowmans living from Stras-

burg to Forestville. Many descendants still live in the same

area. He was affiliated with the Lutheran/Reformed

Church. He had eleven children with two wives. His sons

were: Jacob (1726), David (1730), John (1738), Christian

(1740), Daniel (1750), Henry (1752), Benjamin (1754), and

Samuel (1756). [For additional information about Christian

Bowman (1698), consider the book, Christian Bowman of

Shenandoah County, Virginia by Helen MacDonald and

Betty Boehm Millner.]

4. Jacob Bowman (1722-1778) married Elizabeth Rue-

ger (Unger) based on records in the Lutheran Church, Earl

Town, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Around 1768, the

family relocated to Shenandoah County where Jacob pur-

chased 200 acres located on the North Fork Shenandoah

River near Woodstock which he sold in 1769 to Frederick

Stoner. There is speculation that Jacob was of the Mennon-

ite faith prior to his marriage. The couple had seven chil-

dren, of which two were sons. There is family information

known for one son, Jacob (1744). Nothing is known of the

second son, Samuel. Some descendants moved to Indiana,

others to Greene County, Tennessee.

5. Jacob Bowman Sr. (1718-1803) and wife Varena

lived in Washington County, Maryland, where she died. He

and second wife Barbara relocated to the Linville Creek

area near Broadway in Rockingham County in 1778-79.

After Barbara’s death, Jacob married a third time. Jacob

and family were affiliated with the Flat Rock Church of the

Brethren. Jacob’s descendants spread through Rockingham

County and on to Tennessee and Indiana where many were

heavily involved in the Church of the Brethren. Jacob had

eight children. The sons are thought to be: John (1743),

Isaac (1745), Jacob (1747), Henry (1753), Benjamin

(1754), and Joseph (1757). Sons Isaac and Henry did not

relocate to Virginia, staying in Maryland. [For more infor-

mation on Jacob Bowman (1718) readers are referred to a

three part series written by Emmert Bittinger published in

Mennonite Family History.]

Relationship Status Affirmed by YDNA Results:

The surprising result of YDNA testing is that none of

the early Bowman families highlighted above who lived in

Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties in the 1700s were

related to each other. This is especially surprising given all

the connections that have been asserted. What do we mean

by unrelated? YDNA testing is a science of statistical prob-

ability. Depending on the number and quality of testees,

YDNA results can provide the probability of individuals

being related within a given generational span. For exam-

ple, some would say that to be considered “related” there

should be a high probability of that relationship having

been within ten to twelve generations. When we say none

of the Bowmans highlighted above were related, the results

show no relationship probability within thirty to fifty

generations.

What was the quantity and quality of the testees for

these highlighted Bowmans?

For George Bowman (1700) married to Mary Hite,

there are two testee results from two of George’s six

sons. Remember, three of the sons had no children.

For George Bowman (1712) married to Barbara Keller,

there are 20 testee results from George’s three sons.

For Jacob Bowman (1722) of Woodstock married to

Elizabeth, there is one testee result from one of two

sons, Jacob.

For Jacob Bowman (1718) of Rockingham County,

there are five testee results from three of five sons.

For Christian Bowman (1698), there are four testee

results from three of six sons.

For Henry Bowman (1773), there are three testee results

from two of four sons.

Safes of the Valley


Genetic Relationships of Early Bowman Families . . .

Continued on the next page

Continued from front page



. . . of Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties

Obviously the results for some are stronger than others

based on the number of testees and on the quality of their

paper trail evidence from the original individual down to

the testee. But all meet the standard of reasonable confi-

dence in the outcome: no relationships were found.

There are additional findings from the work of the

Bauman Project1 that will be of interest to those research-

ing Bowmans. These are:

That Jacob Bowman (1718) of Rockingham County was

not the son of Wendell Bowman of Pennsylvania as

many have posited over the years.

That Benjamin Bowman (1754) and Jacob Bowman, Jr.

(1745), strong leaders in the Church of the Brethren in

Rockingham County, have been proven with YDNA

results to be brothers and to be sons of Jacob Bowman

(1718). Also John Bowman (1743) is a proven son. This

is based on five testee results.

That George Bowman (1765) married to Elizabeth Roush

is not related to the George Bowman (1699) and Mary

Hite line. There has been significant misinformation

asserting this relationship in family databases.

That Jacob Bowman (1722) of Woodstock is not a broth-

er to Jacob Bowman (1718) of Rockingham County, and

neither is related to the Wendell Bowman line or to the

Johanas Bowman line of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania,

as suggested by some early researchers.

That while the Christian Bowman (1698) and George

Bowman (1699) lines became interrelated through mar-

riage, there was no relationship prior to their residency in

Shenandoah County.

That none of the Rockingham County Bowmans are re-

lated to John Bowman (1764) of Franklin County, Vir-

ginia, as has been asserted by some researchers. Emmert

Bittinger’s suggestion that there was no relation has

proven correct with YDNA testing.

None of the five Bowman families for whom YDNA

results are available were related to Cornelius Bowman

(1740) of Wilkes County, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

Other Early Bowmans in Shenandoah and Rockingham

Counties of Virginia:

There are records of other Bowmans residing in Shenan-

doah and Rockingham Counties in the 1700s; however

there are no known YDNA results for these families, nor is

there good paper trail evidence of relationship with the

YDNA tested Bowmans above. Other Bowmans include:

Peter Bowman (1763-1823), who lived in Rockingham;

George Adam Bowman, who died in 1797 in Shenandoah

County; Cornelius Bowman (1740), who lived in North

Carolina and moved to eastern Kentucky; Godfrey Bow-

man, who lived in Rockingham and moved to Augusta

County, Virginia; and another Cornelius Bowman with

sons Henry and George, who are mentioned in Chalkley’s

records in very very early Rockingham County. 1The Family Tree DNA Bauman YDNA Surname Ge-

netic Project:

All of the YDNA results utilized in the conclusions in

this article were done under the auspices of the Bauman

Surname YDNA Genetic Project. Co-author Marilyn He-

ring and Mel Bowman are the administrators for this group.

The group’s primary focus is on various Germanic families

who have the Bauman, Baumann, Bowman or Boman sur-

names or the Germanic Bowman YDNA. Marilyn Hering

would be delighted to communicate with anyone who has

information or needs help with Bowmans of the Shenando-

ah Valley. For more information about the YDNA results

herein, contact Marilyn Hering: [email protected].

George Bowman (1712) and son John (1750) built this house in 1773 north of Timberville, Rockingham County. In 2005 it was moved and reconstructed at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia (rear view shown).

Nancye Bowman home near Edinburg in Shenandoah County. Nancye descended from Christian Bowman (1698) through her father’s side and from George Bowman (1712) through her mother's side.

Fort Bowman, or Harmony Hall, was built for George Bowman (1699) near Strasburg in Shenandoah County, about 1753. Early 19th century Valley historian Samuel Kercheval is buried in the Bowman family cemetery nearby.

Continued from previous page



Brock Hardware & Harness Company was located

on the East Court Square portion of N. Main Street in

Harrisonburg. The property was purchased in 1898 by

Owen B. Brock (1868-1936) from C. A Sprinkle &

Co. There Mr. Brocker operated the Harrisonburg

Harness Company. In 1905, Mr. Brock began con-

struction on a two story annex to the Rockingham

Exchange building for his rapidly growing business.

By 1913, the harness factory was discontinued due to

the increasing popularity of the automobile.

In 1915 Brock bought the hardware stock of the

Nicholas & Lemley Co. at a price of $13,000 and took

over the store, which occupied a room in his building

forming the Brock Hardware Company. According to

Brock’s obituary, he operated the business until 1934,

although the company was sold in 1926 to I. S. Ewing

and L. S. Dickenson. At that time the name was

changed to Peoples Hardware Company.

There was a fire in August of 1920 at the Brock

Hardware & Harness Company which practically de-

stroyed the three-story structure and threatened the

entire business block. The loss was estimated at

$20,000, but was fully covered by insurance.

Newspaper advertisements for Brock Hardware &

Harness Company in the 1920s promote a wide inven-

tory such as: twine, auto parts (spark plugs, tubing,

chains, tires, etc.), seeds, stoves, ice cream freezers,

and building materials (nails, hinges, doors, windows,

flooring, etc.). The store also represented the Win-

chester-Arms Company, selling their newly manufac-

tured hardware and sporting goods.

Owen Brock was quite an enterprising man. He

was one of the organizers of the Virginia Amusement

Company which erected the Virginia Theater. He also

organized the Virginia Cigar and Drug Company

which succeeded the L. H. Ott Drug Company. Later

it consolidated with the Central Drug Company in

1934 and then sold out to Peoples Drug Store. In addi-

tion, Brock was a member of the North Court Square

Presbyterian Church building committee.

Owen Brock was the son of Charles J. and Henri-

etta Pennybacker Brock. In 1892, he married Eleanor

Crisman Moore, who died in 1919. In 1924, he mar-

ried his second wife, Ruth Jones. Mr. Brock had three

sons from his first marriage and two daughters from

his second.

Information obtained from various newspaper arti-

cles and advertisements in the Harrisonburg Daily

News-Record between the years 1905 and 1937. The

WPA Records provide additional information regard-

ing the property beginning in 1773 (see Dennis and

Thomas Lanahan Residence and Tavern pp. 233-234).

Found in the Library Files: Brock Hardware & Harness Company

Researched by Margaret Hotchner

Brock Building on East Court Square in Harrisonburg, as seen in the 20th century (right). The buildings of Brock’s hardware and harness enterprises are identified in the 1918 Sanborn Fire Map (below). Note the curved windows on the map (at arrow). The building has been torn down.

EAST MARKET ST

N. M

AIN

ST

.

Julius Ritchie Collection


A Warm Welcome To Our

New Members

Suzanne Bonadeo, Beaver Island, MI

Laura Bray, Elkton, VA

Nancy Copley, Rockingham, VA

Katherine Damico, Penn Laird, VA

Doris Egge, Roanoke, VA

Kathleen Fite, Cincinnati, OH

Jim & Ann Hershberger, Linville, VA

Christine Kaila & Brittani Bailey,

McGaheysville, VA

Kimberly Kissel, Darien, IL

Jeremy & Lindsay Aldrich, Harrisonburg, VA

Janis Norton, Harrisonburg, VA

Patricia Oxley, Round Rock, TX

Cheryl Plane, Rehoboth Beach, DE

David Pruett & Suzanne Fiederlein,

Harrisonburg, VA

Jean Roberts, Reston, VA

Volunteer Luncheon, 12.1.15

Everyone used their listening ears to recognize the holiday tunes and songs of yesteryear in hopes of being the first to get five markers in a row.


Approximately 55 volunteers filled the lecture hall to celebrate another year of service and success.

Administrator Margaret Hotchner delivers newly designed ornaments as tokens of appreciation.

Millie Becker’s piano talents entertained the volunteers dur-ing a game of S-I-N-G-O. Singing was not required to play the musical bingo game, but festive voices did fill the air.

Wish you were there? Get an invitation to the fun by

sharing your time and talent as a volunteer. There’s

always something to do at The Heritage Museum!

A NOTE FROM THE OFFICE

We have begun using a new software program to maintain

donor and member records. Most of the change is behind the

scenes, but you may notice a change in digital communica-

tions. Please be aware that in the near future, we will send a

mass email to confirm your digital preferences, if applicable.

We appreciate your support during this transition. Thank you!


Prominent Harrisonburg Physician Dr. Eugene Dickerson


In the latter 1800s African American teachers in

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County tended to be

better educated than the white teacher. This may seem

surprising, but all of the black teachers received post-

high school training, while many white teachers did

not. This educational strength lay in other areas as

well, including medicine. In 1955 Eugene Dickerson

died in the Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, DC.

His three-decade career as an African American doc-

tor of outstanding credentials in Harrisonburg merits

recognition. Dickerson’s biographical entry in the

Virginia Edition of the History of the American Negro

and His Institutions, published in 1921, described him

as “the only colored physician at the prosperous little

city of Harrisonburg.”

Eugene Dickerson was born on or about August 1,

1877, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was the son of

Charlottesville residents Wilson Dickerson and Fannie

Reeves, both born about 1840. It is noteworthy that

Wilson Dickerson’s sister Aggy Dickerson was a slave

at Monticello well after Thomas Jefferson had died in

1826. She was bought by Uriah Levy in 1835, when

he acquired the formerly grand Monticello estate.

Aggy worked as Levy’s cook.

Eugene Dickerson, with his parents’ encourage-

ment, sought to better himself through education and

study. He attended the public colored schools of Char-

lottesville, including two years of high school. He then

went to the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute in

Petersburg where he received his A.B. degree in 1896.

This school is now known as Virginia State Universi-

ty. It was the first fully state-supported, four-year in-

stitution of higher learning for African Americans in

the United States.

Eugene’s desire to be a doctor convinced him to

attend Leonard Medical College in Raleigh, North

Carolina. The school had been started by Shaw Uni-

versity in 1880 and operated for about 40 years pro-

ducing 400 physicians. Dickerson graduated with his

M.D. degree in 1900. He then took an additional year

of post-graduate work at Howard University in Wash-

ington, specializing in gynecology. He spent another

year as an intern in the Freedmen’s Hospital in Wash-

ington. This hospital, now known as Howard Univer-

sity Hospital, was estab-

lished in 1862 to meet the

medical needs of newly

freed slaves who came to

Washington during the

Civil War.

Dr. Dickerson began

practicing medicine in

Gloucester County, Vir-

ginia, in the small com-

munity of Ware Neck. He

moved on to Bluefield,

West Virginia, where he

served for 2½ years. Dur-

ing that time he was a

surgeon in Mercer Hospital. In 1910, after a brief peri-

od in Staunton, Dr. Dickerson came to Harrisonburg

and spent the next thirty-plus years meeting the medi-

cal needs of its black citizens.

In 1904 Eugene Dickerson married Leona Ander-

son, daughter of James T. and Eva J. Anderson of

Staunton, Virginia. James Anderson was a teacher

there. Leona, who had graduated from Morgan Col-

lege in Baltimore (now Morgan State University) and

did post-graduate work at Fisk University in Nash-

ville, was an accomplished school teacher before her

marriage. As a doctor’s wife in Harrisonburg, Leona,

worked in her home as a hairdresser. Sadly, Leona

Dickerson died in 1924 at the Freedmen’s Hospital in

Washington, DC, after a brief illness. Her funeral was

held at John Wesley M. E. Church in Harrisonburg

with burial in Newtown Cemetery.

Eugene and Leona were the parents of four chil-

dren: Eugene, Jr., James Wilson, Eva Frances, and

Austin Curtis. James died just after his first birthday.

Doris Harper Allen in her book, The Way It Was,

Not the Way It Is, provides some illuminating insight

into Dr. Dickerson. She writes, “Doc was a great doc-

tor, kind, gentle personality, patient with seniors and

children . . . .” She also mentions that Dickerson not

only served the black citizens of Harrisonburg, but

also those in the surrounding county as well. Dr. Jacob

C. Harshbarger, who lived on South Mason Street in

Harrisonburg, was a close associate of Dickerson’s. In

Jim Crow days, Rockingham Memorial Hospital

By Dale MacAllister

Continued on the next page



consigned African American patients to a limited area

in the basement.

Dr. Dickerson was not allowed to perform surgery

in Rockingham Memorial Hospital. His patients need-

ing surgery were forced to go to the Freedmen’s Hos-

pital in DC. Dickerson had an office available in

Washington for use when one of his patients was there

for surgery. Ruth Toliver’s book Keeping Up with

Yesterday mentions that the doctor had admitting priv-

ileges in that hospital.

Dr. Dickerson was an active member of Harrison-

burg’s black Newtown community in numerous ways.

He was a member of the Methodist Church; of Omar

Masonic Lodge, No. 226; and the

Order of the Eastern Star, Shenan-

doah Chapter, No. 108.

One of Dr. Dickerson’s prime

concerns was that of promoting

better health in the black commu-

nity. In 1910, his first year of prac-

tice in Harrisonburg, he read a pa-

per at the Colored Teachers’ Insti-

tute held at Effinger Street School.

The paper was titled

“Conservation of the Health of the

Community.”

In 1914 Dickerson was among

those who proposed to organize a

Civic League associated with the

colored schools. The Doctor was appointed to a per-

manent organization committee. This was the era

when Civic Leagues, with citizen and parent support,

were being organized all over Virginia to help provide

additional support for schools and their needed im-

provements.

His close association with the local schools contin-

ued for many years with Dr. Dickerson serving as

medical examiner and health inspector. He also served

as a medical examiner for Standard Life Insurance

Company.

During World War I, Dickerson was chairman of

the local colored Liberty Loan Committee. He also

volunteered for the Medical Research Council.

In 1924 Dr. Dickerson was an active leader in pro-

moting “Negro National Health Week.” Previously,

this was celebrated by local African Americans as a

week to clean up around their property. That year they

were encouraged to cooperate with clean-up efforts

throughout all of Harrisonburg. The churches promot-

ed this cooperation to help “make our city, clean,

healthful and beautiful.”

In 1927 Dr. Dickerson spoke on behalf of the Red

Cross at a program held in John Wesley Methodist

Church. He talked about the history, purpose, and

work of the society. County Red Cross leaders present

at the meeting acknowledged their “great satisfaction

over the interest the colored population has taken in

the Red Cross movement.”

In 1939, continuing his commitment to community

health, Dickerson was a founding member of a Negro

Tuberculosis Auxiliary of Rockingham County associ-

ated with the Virginia State Tuberculosis Society. The

doctor was treasurer of the local organization.

TB was of particular interest to Dr. Dicker-

son. In 1908 he had served as delegate to the

International Congress on Tuberculosis held

in Washington.

Eugene Dickerson truly believed that

progress and development for the African

American race could best be realized through

“better organization along civic and econom-

ic lines, coupled with unselfish, efficient

leadership.” His dedication to his practice,

and his efforts toward community improve-

ment, contributed greatly toward that goal.

The Dickerson family lived at 202 North

Mason Street on the corner with East Wolfe

Street. The house had been built about 1910.

When the doctor died in 1955, his Mason Street home

was willed to the Omar Masonic Lodge. The Lodge

continues to meet there today.

Dr. Dickerson moved to Washington, DC, about

1947 and lived at 1600 Fifteenth Street, N.W. His

death occurred in April 1955 in the same hospital

where he had served an internship a half-century earli-

er. It was also the institution where his surgical pa-

tients were welcomed for life-saving procedures.

Eugene Dickerson was brought back to Harrisonburg

for burial in Newtown Cemetery. The sad fact about

this twentieth-century African American physician,

health advocate, and Newtown community leader is

that he has no stone to mark his final resting place.

Photos of Dr. Dickerson and his family are from the New

York Public Library’s digital image collection.

Continued from previous page



Acquisitions Archives

Beth El Congregation of Harrisonburg donated copies of Hobby Robinson’s books, Nine to Ninety and

Mish Mash.

Stan Farthing donated two copies of a dedication card of the June 23, 2011, ceremony for the reconstruction

of the historic stone wall on Eberly Road in Dayton, Virginia. The wall was restored by the community.

Marlena Powers donated a Wenger bible which was found by a friend in a trash can. There was no title page

included; however, the Wenger family data inscribed was for the period 1893-1943.

Victor and David Smith donated two items which they found in the estate papers of Audrey Smith. The first

item is an envelope containing facsimiles of important Lee and Grant documents - e.g. Grant’s Terms –

Rough Draft, Grant’s Terms – Final Ink Copy, Lee’s Letter of Acceptance, Final Terms – by Commission-

ers, Parole Pass – issued to General Fitzhugh Lee, Lee’s Farewell Address, Lee’s Amnesty Oath, and, Lee’s

letter to the Honorable John Letcher. The Smiths also donated Cross Keys, An Interdiction, Sunday 8 June

1862 by W.R. Waddell, Jr.

Lois & Paul Wenger donated a copy of the songbook The Royal Proclamation published by Ruebush, Kief-

fer & Co. of Dayton, Virginia.

Betty Driver donated Rader Lutheran Church (1765-2015) commemorative items: a Veterans Recognition

Memorial program (July 12, 2015) and A Brief History – 1965-2015.

Artifacts

John Hinkle delivered additional printing slugs and blocks to his previous printing press donations.

William O’Brien donated in the memory of John Heatwole two paper scrips; one issued by the County of

Rockingham (VA) dated June 1, 1862, in the amount of 10¢, and the other issued by The Farmers & Millers

Depot, dated September 13, 1861, in the amount of .03¢.

Seymour Paul donated formal clothing including a tuxedo, two dresses, a bow tie, scarf and undergarments.

He also donated a round traveling case.

Library

Robert Alley donated a copy of his newly released book, Nickell-Nichol, Donagle, Burk – Ancestors & De-

scendants of John McCastle Donaghe Nichol and Nancy Ann Burke.* In addition, he donated genealogy

resource books for the library.

Richard Armstrong donated a copy of his newest book, They Also Served, The Confederate Niter & Mining

Bureau District 4½ - Staunton, VA, 1862-1865. *

Tony Lawson donated the book, The History of Elkton by R.B. Hutton.

Howard Miller donated a number of issues from various newsletters – e.g. Pen Pal Palatine Quarterly,

Pennsylvania Monthly Mennonite Quarterly, Mennonite Family History, and the Journal of Pennsylvania

German Society. Mr. Miller also donated four music books published by Ruebush & Company of Dayton,

VA.

Gene Rhodes donated a copy of his 2015 book, Billy Rhodes: The Untold Stories.*

Elwood Yoder donated a copy of his newly published book, How Firm a Foundation, A History of Weavers

Mennonite Church.

Juanita Wysong donated a copy of Remember When: Filling Stations and Grocery Stores by Jack & Jeddie

Hensley, a pictorial history from the Elkton area.

Administration

Jerry Griffin and Juanita Taylor donated office supplies to the office.

Compiled by Margaret Hotchner

*Copies of this book are also available for sale in the Museum Bookstore.



History of little-known aspect of Civil War

They Also Served: The Confederate

Niter & Mining Bureau, District 4½

Staunton VA, 1862-1865

by Richard L. Armstrong

& Marion O. Smith.

Hardcover, $25

Years of research come together to reveal

the operations to produce saltpeter for gun-

powder and the many men who were em-

ployed, including Confederate soldiers, free

blacks, and slaves. The men of the Bureau

also saw military action at the Battle of

Piedmont, near Staunton. Includes purchase

records, roster of workers, and index.

For Valentine’s Day!

My Own Dear Maggie: A

True Shenandoah Love

Story compiled by Elsie Re-

nalds Newcomer and Janet

Renalds Ramsey.

Softcover, $25

My Own Dear Maggie is a

fascinating love story which

uniquely reveals the rebuild-

ing and growth of the Shen-

andoah Valley after The War

Between The States.

Bookstore & Gift Shop

Virginia migration through three centuries!

Bound Away: Virginia and the Westward Move-

ment by David Hackett Fischer and James C. Kelly.

Softcover, $30

Based on an acclaimed exhibition at the Virginia His-

torical Society, the book studies three stages of migra-

tion to, within, and from Virginia. Each stage has its

own story to tell. Together they offer an opportunity to

study the westward movement through three centuries,

as it has rarely been studied before.

Too far for a visit?

Textile Art from Southern

Appalachia: The Quiet

Work of Women

by Kathleen Curtis Wilson.

Softcover, $27.50.

The author brings together

the textiles and the stories of

the women who wove them,

stimulating a new respect and

appreciation for the artistic

excellence and long tradition

of mountain coverlet hand

weaving.

New Genealogy!

Nickell-Nichol

Donaghe Burke Ances-

tors & Descendants of

John McCastle

Danaghe Nichol and

Nancy Ann Burke by Robert Earl Alley.

Hardcover, $42.50.

Includes photos, charts,

bibliography, stories,

and index, 425 pages.


Harrisonburg - Rockingham Historical Society

P.O. Box 716

Dayton, Virginia 22821

OR CURRENT ADDRESS

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 19 Harrisonburg/Rockingham

Winter 2016, Vol. 38, No. 1

Check your mailing label. If it’s blue, it’s time to renew!

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project - Help Wanted

In the late 1920s and into the 1930s, the Commonwealth of Virginia used the

power of eminent domain to acquire land for donation to the federal government

in order to create Shenandoah National Park. From 1,081 individual tracts of land,

more than 500 families and individuals were required to leave their homes so that

the park could be established.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project will acknowledge and honor the people

whose sacrifices made it possible for us to enjoy the Shenandoah National Park

today and into the future. The Project’s vision is twofold: (1) to create a monu-

ment, designed to look like a mountain home chimney, in each of the eight coun-

ties where land was required and (2) to educate visitors about the lives and culture

of the people who lived in the mountains. To date, Madison County is the only

site that has been completed. Let’s see if Rockingham can be next!

Project Founder Bill Henry is looking for a Coordinator for the Rockingham

County Committee. A number of individuals have expressed interest in and sup-

port for the project, so an initial committee awaits its leader! Also, when the mon-

ument is complete, names from mountain residents will be displayed on the

monument. Are you a descendant? Please submit your name. Keep in mind, not

everyone who left the mountain was a property owner.

For more information, contact Bill Henry at [email protected].

Documents

Home of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical …...20-year journey documenting regional coverlets, the fascinating stories she heard along the way, and the Scots-Irish migration