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Ralph G. Adkins

Ralph G. Adkins[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Male 1836 - 1914  (77 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Ralph G. Adkins 
    Born 20 Dec 1836  Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 3 Jul 1914  Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Adkins-Oakes Cemetery, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I4395  My Reynolds Line | Descendants Hugh Pittsylvania Reynolds, Descendants of James Reynolds
    Last Modified 27 Nov 2016 

    Father Anderson Henderson Adkins,   b. 5 Aug 1806, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Mar 1876, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Mother Nancy Booker Reynolds,   b. 15 Mar 1817, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Aug 1894, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Married 19 Feb 1836 
    Family ID F2698  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Harriet Ann "Heary" Reynolds,   b. 9 Dec 1839, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Apr1901, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 61 years) 
    Married 15 Jan 1861  Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Rhoda 'Rhodie' N.E. Adkins,   b. 16 Mar 1866, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Mar 1884, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 18 years)
    +2. William Henry Adkins,   b. 3 Aug 1869, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Mar 1931, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 61 years)
     3. John Thomas Adkins,   b. 1872, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Jul 1940, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
     4. Boss Elwood Adkins,   b. 1879, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1945, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years)
     5. Charles 'Charley' A. Adkins,   b. 31 Dec 1884, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Jun 1899, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 14 years)
    Last Modified 30 Nov 2022 
    Family ID F1913  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Fort Delaware
    Fort Delaware
    FortDelaware.jpg
    War Camp
Point Lookout
St. Mary's County, Maryland
    War Camp Point Lookout St. Mary's County, Maryland
    point lookout.jpg

    Documents
    Death Certificate-Ralph G. Adkins
    Death Certificate-Ralph G. Adkins
    dralphadkins.jpg
    Death Certificate 2-Ralph Adkins
    Death Certificate 2-Ralph Adkins
    dralphadkins-2.jpg
    Pension Record-Ralph Adkins
    Pension Record-Ralph Adkins
    ralphadkins1.jpg

    Headstones
    Adkins-Oakes Cemetery-Ralph G. Adkins
    Adkins-Oakes Cemetery-Ralph G. Adkins
    ra.jpg

    Histories
    DAR Application of Mary Frances Reynolds - New Patriot - Hugh Reynolds
ANY REYNOLDS DESCENDANT FROM PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA IS NOW ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BASED ON DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE FROM 1759.  AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
    DAR Application of Mary Frances Reynolds - New Patriot - Hugh Reynolds ANY REYNOLDS DESCENDANT FROM PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA IS NOW ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BASED ON DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE FROM 1759. AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
    MFE-DAR2.pdf

  • Notes 
    • Wounded in the battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia

  • Sources 
    1. [S31] Cottagehill/Southside, http://www.cottagehill.com/southside/f10.htm#f17636.
      Betsy Adkins Family

    2. [S32] Find-A-Grave.com, https://secure.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20792818.
      Parents:
      Anderson Adkins (1806 - 1876)
      Nancy Booker Reynolds Adkins (1817 - 1894)
      Spouse:
      Harriet Ann Reynolds Adkins (1839 - 1901)
      Children:
      Rhodie N E Adkins (1866 - 1884)
      William Henry Adkins (1869 - 1932)
      John Thomas Adkins (1872 - 1940)
      Boss Edward Adkins (1878 - 1945)
      Charles A Adkins (1884 - 1899)
      He was a Confederate War veteran.

      He enlisted as a Private in Company E (The Pig River Grays), 57th Infantry Regiment Virginia on July 1, 1861. He was promoted to Full Corporal on May 7, 1862 and wounded on July 1, 1862 at Malvern Hill, VA (In leg). He marched with the 57th into Pennsylvania and fought in the Battle of Gettysburg where he was captured and became a POW on July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg, PA during Pickett's Charge. He was confined on July 12, 1863 at Fort Delaware, DE and on October 27, 1863 moved to Point Lookout, MD. On February 18, 1865 he was exchanged and then made his way home to Virginia. Married wife 1 Harriet Ann Reynolds on January 15, 1861. Married wife 2 Minnie Lee Mahan on April 29, 1903. Child of Ralph and Minnie Adkins:
      Ruth Gold Adkins 1904 1982

    3. [S74] Pension Record, http://interactive.ancestry.com/1677/31867_b034285-00845?pid=509877&backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2f%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3findiv%3d1%26db%3dTexasConfederatePensions%26h%3d509877%26tid%3d%26pid%3d%26usePUB%3dtrue%26rhSource%3d1138&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true.
      Explaining the wounds he received in the battle of Malvern Hill.

    4. [S174] Civil War documents/information, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=civilwar_histdatasys&h=3223367&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&rhSource=1138.

    5. [S174] Civil War documents/information, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=3866&_F0002A81=57th+Regiment%2c+Virginia+Infantry&gss=angs-d&pcat=39&fh=0&h=2607&recoff=&ml_rpos=1.

    6. [S174] Civil War documents/information, http://www.mosocco.com/xva.html.
      Mentions Ralph Adkins (among others)
      57th Virginia Infantry Regiment

      Page 16-Star-Tribune, Chatham, Virgina

      Thursday, September 2, 1982

      Recollections A true story about Families of County during Civil War

      By Terry W. Wright

      There was something quite special about the lady who, until recently lived in a little mobile home not far from Callands. Genealogically speaking, she was a discovery; a find, if you will!! Mrs. Ruth Adkins Aaron was 78 years old when she died just recently. To those who knew her Mrs. Ruth Adkins Aaron was quite special in her own right... she belonged to a generation that has nearly vanished.

      Consider first, though, her genealogical kinship to the chronology of American history. She was born March 8, 1904, daughter of Ralph G. Adkins and Minnie Mahan Adkins. Her father was a veteran of the War Between the States. To such organization as the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Mrs. Aaron is known as a "true" daughter. Such true daughters are increasingly rare, only two known to be living in Pittsylvania County today.

      However, that which makes her genealogically special goes deeper than the fact that her father was a Confederate veteran. Add one more generation, her grandfather, and you have gone back more than 176 years into American history! Her grandfather, Anderson Adkins of the Callands community, was born August 5, 1806, son of Henry Adkins and Elizabeth Adkins. Dec. 20, 1836, Mrs. Aaron's father to be, Ralph Adkins was born.

      Mrs. Aaron of course didn't remember her grandfather Anderson Adkins, because he died March 1, 1876. 28 years before her birth. Her father, though, she has fond recollections. She was 10 years old when her father died in 1914. During those 10 years her father shared with her much of the Adkins family's experiences during the Civil War. The story which follows is a composite account of what she remembers as told to the writer of this article-plus genealogical research, and Civil War records. It is a true and fascinating story of three young Pittsylvania County Men caught up in the fury of a cruel war... it's a story of tragedy, pathos, suffering, and history of the times.

      The early summer of 1861 was an eventful time in Ralph Adkins life. On June 24, 1861 he married his third cousin, Heary Ann Reynolds, daughter of John Philpott Reynolds and Rhoda Smith Reynolds. One week later,July 1, 1861, he volunteered for service in the armed forces of the infant Confederate Nation. He was by no means alone though, for many of his cousins and uncles had already enlisted, some as early as March. With him this day to join the Confederate Army were is younger brother Henry A. Adkins, and his brother-inlaw, William G. Reynolds. Reynolds was the oldest of the trio, born March 27, 1834, son of John P. Reynolds and Rhoda Smith Reynolds. He was also Ralph and Henry's brother-inlaw by virture of the fact that on June 8, 1858, he had married their only sister, Elizabeth A. Adkins.

      William and Elizabeth Reynolds, already had one son, William Goggin Reynolds, born May 21, 1859, and were expecting another when William enlisted that July day in 1861. Henry Adkins was the youngest of the trio, born Oct. 23, 1841. All three were given the rank of private, and assigned to the 57th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Company E, also known as the Pig River Greys.

      The exact day the three marched off to war is not known, but company muster rolls show the three present and on duty from August 29, 1861. Not much happened to the 57th Virginia that fall of 1861, but something happened in the family of William Reynolds. On Oct. 31. Elizabeth gave birth to her second child, a daughter. This daughter was named after her mother; she was Elizabeth Cornelious Reynolds.

      Just how long it took William Reynolds to recieve word of his daughter's birth is not known, but he would not be long in seeing his family. His service record shows that he was granted a 30 day sick leave Dec. 17, 1861, and he did return to Pittsylvania County. It is likely then he had his portrait painted by an unknown artist. His grandson, Thomas Nelson Reynolds of Sandy Level now owns the painting. According to his service records, William Reynolds stayed longer than his 30 days leave. Company muster rolls show him absent without leave for part of January of 1862. However he seems to have been on detached service at the Confederate hospital in Suffolk for part of that time. Shortly thereafter the first Civil War related tragedy struck the Adkins family.

      On May 10, 1862 Private William G. Reynolds died in the Confederate States Hospital at Petersburg. Cause of death was Rubeola (measles). Just what relationship existed between his illness of Dec. of 1861 and his death 5 months later is not known. He left a 23 year old widow, a three year old son, and a seven month old daughter.

      This was the third time death struck the family of John P. Reynolds in those recent years. His 17 year old daughter, Elizabeth had died May 23, 1854. His wife Rhoda Smith Reynolds, had died at the age of 47 on March 27, 1858. Now John P. Reynolds hitched a buckboard to a team of horses and drove to Richmond to recover the body of his son. No doubt as he drove along he pondered the misfortunes that had befallen his family in recent years.

      Of concern to him now were his other 2 sons fighting for the Confederacy. Williams younger brothers, John Booker Reynolds and Jabez S. Reynolds were with Company B of the 38th Virginia Infantry. Would they too be struck down by this war in which there were so many ways a man could die? The possibilities must have seemed terrifyingly real to John Reynolds in the spring of 1862. He brought his son home and buried him in the Adkins-Reynolds cemetery alongside of his mother Rhoda and his sister Elizabeth.

      The war was over for William Reynolds. It was just getting started for Ralph and Henry Adkins. Company records indicate the 57th Virginia was camped near White Oak Swamp, east of Richmond during May and June of 1862. Yankee General George B. McCelellan was threatening Richmond from the east with a Blue army numbering 115,000.

      During a series of battles from June 25, to July 1 called the Seven Days Campaign, Lee's army of Northern Virginia pushed McCelellan back down the Penninsula away from Richmond. The last battle of this series was Malvern Hill, fought July 1, 1862, one year to the day from Ralph and Henry's enlistment. Ralph Adkins now carried the rank of Corporal, having been promoted May 7, 1862, from private.

      Malvern Hill proved to be a Confederate disaster. According to historians it was simply a reckless lunge, whole regiments and divisions of the Confederate Army rushing out on a fire swept approach without coordination, combination or reconnaissance. Well placed Union artillery simply blew the onrushing Confederates to bits, McClellan hardly having to engage his infantry at all.

      Among the multitude of grey casualties on the hillside was Ralph Adkins. His service record says simply: "Severly wounded - leg" Also "slightly wounded" at Malvern Hill was Ralph's Uncle, Anderson Adkins younger brother, Herny Adkins serving with Company B of the 38th Virginia. Whatever the severity of Ralph's leg wound, it did not require amputation.

      Ralph was now given a 60 day home furlough, and home to Pittsylvaina County he came. How things had changed since he left one year ago! There was of course his sister Elizabeth who had become a widow since he had last seen her. But ther were also two new members of the Adkins family Ralph had never seen. There was his niece, Elizabeth Reynolds and even Ralph himself had a new baby brother. Born April 11, 1862 was Henry Gilmer Adkins, the last child of Anderson and Nancy Adkins. He was better known in later years as Henry "Toot" Adkins. Perhaps being with his family was the medicine Ralph Adkins most needed, if only for 60 days.

      However, Ralph stayed longer than his allotted 60 days. Company muster rolls show he did not return to duty until the spring of 1863. As a result, on October 24, 1862, he was reduced to his original rank of private. No doubt the Confederate military was happy to have him back though, as lack of manpower was always a problem for the South.

      Lee's army was about to need all the manpower it could muster, for Lee was thinking of invading the North. By the 3rd of June, Lee's army was moving in that direction. No one in the Confederate or Union military planned for the greatest battle ever waged in the Western Hemisphere to occur at Gettysburg Pennsylvania, but it was there that Union and Confederate armies collided July 1, 1863.

      It was to be the last battle that Ralph and Henry Adkins would wage. On July 3, 1863 the last day of the three day battle, both were captured at Gettysburg by Union forces. Fort Delaware was not a pleasant place to be. It became known as the Andersonville of the North. By August of 1863 there were 12,500 prisoners being held there. Conditions were horrible at best.

      Wrote one prisoner of the food at Fort Delaware, "of the cuisine of Fort Delaware, there is not much to be said in praise. Two meals are served to us daily. Occasionally a mixture designated by our persecutors as soup and containing an ample sufficiency of maggots is doled out to us in pots."

      Another prisoner wrote "Dinner was the big meal of the two," "it consisted of precisely the same quantity of meat and bread with the addition of half a tin cup of slop which no man had the right to dignify with the name of soup. To the best of our judgment the ingredients were rotten water, rice hulls, white worms half an inch long, grit, nails, and hair, with now and then a grain of corn."

      Under these conditions 2700 prisoners died while incarcerated at Fort Delaware. 2346 are buried in a national cemetery at Finn's Point, New Jersey, just across the Delaware River from Fort Delaware. The names of the dead are inscribed in alphabetical order on a monument which marks their place of burial. The 11th name on that monument is Henry A. Adkins. He lasted only a short while under the conditions of inprisonment at Fort Delaware. On August 7, 1863 he died of Chronic diarrhea.

      There is no way of knowing how much companionship Ralph and Henry were allowed in prison, no way of knowing if Ralph was with his brother at the time of his death, one can only imagine the despair. Ralph Adkins, unlike his brother, would survive the prison camps.

      On February 18, 1865, he was paroled and released at Point Lookout, Maryland. Three young Pittsylvania County men, Ralph G. Adkins, Henry A Adkins, and William G. Reynolds has marched off to war in the early summer of 1861, and now only Ralph was returning.

      The Adkins' family's losses did not end with just two though. Ralph and Henry's first cousin, Lt. Henry G. Reynolds, son of Berryman and Nancy Adkins Reynolds, had died in battle June 17, 1864 at Webb's Farm. He served in Company B of the 38th Virginia Infantry, and on May 19, 1862, had been elected by his company as a lieutenant.

      An Adkins family Bible now owned by Mrs. Louise Oakes of Route 4, Chatham, Virginia lists the dates of birth of William G. Reynolds, Henry A. Adkins, and Henry G. Reynolds, and then the date of death of each, one in 1862, another in 1863, and another in 1864.

      From Richmond, Ralph Adkins began a long walk home. He made the journey with two companions, but Mrs. Aaron couldn't recall their names. She does relate that her father returned home to the house in which Mrs. Louise Oakes now lives at Route 4, Chatham, Virginia. It is not clear who built this house or who owned it in 1865. The chimney bears the date 1857. It was likely owned by either Anderson Adkins or John Philpott Reynolds, Ralph's father or father-in-law. Both men are buried in the Adkins-Reynolds Cemetery on the hill above this home.

      Mrs. Aaron related that a fence ran around the house in 1865 to keep livestock away from the dwelling. This would have been no problem in the spring of 1865 though, as the Confederates had taken horses, cows, chickens, and pigs to either fee the army or serve as a mount for Calvery.

      Upon arrival home Ralph climbed atop this fence and shouted up to the house. He did not risk going any further as his hair and clothing were infested with lice. Ralph's request was simple. He asked for soap, clothing, and a pair of scissors. After receiving these items, he proceeded to Tomahawk Creek where he stripped off his lice infested clothing, including the rags wrapped around his feet as a substitute for shoes. He proceeded to cut off all his lice infested hair and with the soap he washed the stench of Fort Delaware from his body.

      One can only imagine the range of human emotions stirred by the return of this tired soldier. Life would never be the same for the Adkins and Reynolds, and they would not soon get over their losses!

      Ralph and Heary Ann Adkins, like families all over the war torn South, picked up the pieces of their shattered lives and proceeded forward. Born to them March 15, 1866 was their first child, a daughter, Rhodie N. E. Adkins. Then followed three boys, William Henry (better known as Henry Ralph) born in 1869, John Thomas in 1872, and Boss Ewood Adkins in 1879.

      On March 30, 1884 tragedy again struck Ralph Adkins' family. His 16 year old daughter, Rhodie died. On April 16, 1901, Heary Ann Reynolds died at the age of 62 leaving her husband, Ralph, a 65 year old widower.

      Two years later, April 29, 1903, Ralph married his second wife, a young widow, who was also his second cousin. She was Minnie Mahan, daughter of James H. and Elizabeth Reynolds Mahan. To Ralph and Minnie Adkins was born Ruth (Mrs. Aaron) in 1904 and then another daughter Janie Elizabeth Adkins on November 23, 1906. (Mrs. Aaron's sister Janie is now Janie Richter of Hamilton, Ohio).

      Ruth Adkins was married on December 23, 1921 to Glifford Holt Aaron, son of Ballard P. and Wilsie Mitchell Aaron. Some in the county may remember Mrs. Aaron when she worked in the Clerk's Office in Chatham, Virginia at the beginning of World War II. She waited on many who received their gas ration stamps during the war period. Shortly after the war, she moved to Portsmouth, and after her retirement in 1968 she moved back to Pittsylvania County.

      As was stated at the beginning of this article, Mrs. Ruth Adkins Aaron was indeed a very special lady. Perhaps not because of her unusual genalogy, but because of her pleasing manner, her charm and honesty. In conversing with Mrs. Aaron, and becoming her friend both of which was easy to do, one got the impression that perhaps she embodies the idea of Southern womanhood that the Confederate soldier carried in his heart and mind...she is indeed a special lady.

      The information of her family relations and accounts pertaining to the war are recounted here from her remarkable recollection of events as related to her by her father to this writer - T.W.W.

      P.S.: by Terry W. Wright
      Mrs. Ruth Aaron died Sunday, August 15, 1982. This writing was never intended to be "in memory of" her. It had been discussed with her and she was more delighted with, the idea than her modesty would allow her to show.
      It is hoped that descendents of the families mentioned herein will enjoy this glimpse into the past and appreciate to some extent the suffering brought upon their family by the War Between the States. It is however, with deep regret that my friend, Miss Ruth, never got to see it..............

      A very special thanks to Lionel (Bud) Adkins, the great great grandson of Raph Adkins for sending me this superb newspaper article and sharing with us this info. on his noble ancestor who fought for the Southern cause!




      VIRGINIA CAVALRY UNITS





    7. [S18] Family Search, LDS, https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LW7N-RFQ/william-neal-adkins-1855-1927.
      William Neal Adkins
      April 1855?18 September 1927 (Age 72)

      Sallie Ann Malissa Reynolds, Female, 1856?1923,
      Marriage, 8 April 1880 Pittsylvania, Virginia

      Children (10)
      Claude James Adkins, 1881?1948,
      Lila Elizabeth Adkins, 1883?1971
      Nannie Love Adkins, 1884?1884
      Loise Adkins, 1886?1940
      William Barton Adkins, 1888?1954
      Frances Booker Adkins, 1891?1946
      Ralph Anderson Adkins, 1893?1935
      Samuel Gilmore Adkins, 1895?1957
      Robert Eldridge Adkins, 1899?1946
      Minnie Roxie Adkins, 1903?1965

      Parents
      Anderson Henderson Adkins, 1806?1876
      Nancy Booker Reynolds, 1817?1894

      Siblings (7)
      Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Adkins, 1834?1919
      Ralph Adkins, 1836?1914
      Henry A Adkins, 1841?1863
      Caleb Adkins, 1848?1916
      William Neal Adkins, 1855?1927
      Henry Gilmer Adkins, 1862?1940
      John Ward Adkins, 1864?Deceased