William Barksdale Tabb was born on September 11, 1840 and died on December 4, 1874 at age 34. He graduated from both VMI and the University of Virginia, and thereafter practiced law. During the Civil War Tabb first served as Captain on the staff of General Henry Wise. On November 1, 1862 he was promoted to Colonel of the 59th Virginia Infantry. He was the commander of his regiment and is mainly known for being in the Battle of Sayler's Creek in which the Confederate States of America lost over 7,000 casualties. William along with his wife had three children in Amelia County, Virginia named Harriet Rutherford Tabb, William Barksdale Tabb Jr., and Sherrard Rutherford Tabb.