Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-08-11

1858, though Democrat and the county
overwhelmingly Wing. he was elected to
the House OF Delegates, being one of the
very few Democrats who ever enjoyed tina
honor from Augusta. In 1859 he was nomt
mated OH the first ballot and almost by &C.
clamation by the largest Democratic Con-
vention that ever met in the district, to
succeed Hon. John Letcher in Congress
and was opposed by Mr.. John T. Harris
also a Democrat, who ran as an Indepen-
dent and defeated Mr.. s. by some seven or
eight hundred votes. just previous to the
breaking out Of the war, Mr.. S. enlisted
as private in the West Augusta Guards
and on the breaking out Of hostilities
raised a company of 103 young men and
became the senior Captain of the SD Viz
ginia regiment of Infantry. In May 1862
Capt. Skinner was elected 1t. Colonel of
the regiment and in Oct 1868 was COM
missioned it's Colonel. Col Skinner was
wounded at the second battle of Manassas
again at the battle of Gettysburg and final
ly on the 18th Of May, 1864, at the battle
of Spottsylvania G. FL. where he received
a wound that disabled him from service in
the field. In 1864 he was appointed COM
madant of the post at Staunton. In the
winter of 1865 he was elected to represent
Augusta IN the House of Delegates, but
that legislature never met.
JAMES BUMGARDNER, JR.
Mr.. James Bumgardner, Jr., comes
from one of the Oldest Augusta county
families. His eat-great-grandfathe re-
! ceiyed his land here by grant and it has
been occupied ever since by his descend
ants. The origina! grantee was present at
the burning of the tea in Boston, Mass,
having gone there in his fathers wagon.
Mr.. Lewis Bumgardner, Capt. BIS father,
moved to Missouri early in life where he
married and the subject of this notice Was
born at Fayette in that state, but came
with his father back to Virginia early in
life. He was educated at the University
Of Virginia and afterwards studied law
with his present partner, Judge Hugh W.
Sheffey. When the civil war began he was
Lieutenant in the West Augusta G yards
but was shortly afterwards appointed Ad-
jutant OF the 5th Va regiment. Upon the
| reorganization he enlisted as a private in
Co. A57th Va. regiment where he was soon
elected junior I'd Lieutenant of the compa-
ny. just before the battle of the I'd Ma
nassas he was appointed to the command
of Co. F in the same regiment, it being
| without an officer, and Immediately after
the battle Of Sharpsburg was elected Cap
| tain OF the company. AT the battle Of
Winchester he was captured and detained
| at Fort Delaware till the close of the war
While in prison three regiments including
the 57th were consolidated and 80 Captains.
dropped, but Capt. B. though in prison
was retained among the officers.
JUDGE JOHN 7. HARRIS.
Mr.. Harris was born in Albemarle
and received common school education.
His father removed to Naked Creek in
Augusta county, and Judge Harris studied
law in Staunton with the late Judge Lucas
Thompson. He taught school at Mt.
Sidney in this county and then began the
practice of law at Harrisonburg. His first
appearance in politicsswas in the Congress
sional canvass in .'46 between Mcdowell
(Democrat) andsAlgernon Gray (Whig.)
The former was prevented from reaching
Harrisonburg by the illness of his wife and
MIR. Harris took his place replying to Mr.
Gray. He was shortly afterwards elected
Commonwealth Attorney of Rocking
ham. In 1859 he was elected to Congress
over Col. James IT. Skinner the regular
Democratic nominee and the war broke
out before another election came on.
When the war began he obtained employ
nlent in the Quartermasters Department
under Col. Brent, and afterwards was cleo
ted a delegate from Rockingham to the
General Assembly, which position he filled
to the close of the war. In 1868 he an
nounced himself a candidate for Congress
and canvassed the district, but was beaten
by Hon. VIM. Mines, Jr., of Shenandoah,
who was announced as a candidate only
few days before the election. In 1870 ne
received the nomination at the Democrat
ic Congressional Convention in Harrison
burg and was elected, and was re-nomina.
ted and reelected in ~ and IA.
THE OTHER CANDIDATES.
Besides theabove named gentlemen there
are Judge Chas. O'Ferrall, of Rocking
ham, who was a gallant Confederate SOL
der during the war, is a lawyer by pro-
fession, and county judge of Rockingham.
He was formerly one of the proprietors
Of the American Hotel here; Mr.. S. V.
Southall, Of Albemarle, a lawyer by pro-
fession. and for several sessions repre-
sentative Of Albemarle in the Legislature,
and Capt. Harry II. Riddlebarger, the e di-
tor of the Woodstock Democrat" who
is also lawyer, and has served several
terms in the Legislature.
AFLAsH IN THE PAN IN GooCHLAND.
In Goochland, a few days since, meet
ing was held and delegates appointed to
the Congressional Convention in Staunton.
The meeting adopted a resolution favor
ing the denomination of Judge Harris,
and was understood to have been gotten
up by his friends. 1t was of course IL
regular, not being held at the call Of the
County Superintendent, nor notice given,
and the Superintendent will, it is under
stood, call another meeting in conformity
with the regulations of the Conservative
organization of the State.
THE COMING CONVENTION.
The composition of the coming Congress.
sional Convention in Staunton looks ex-
tremely mixed, and will not be like that
held here in IA. which was cut, dried and
cooked for Judge Harris, there being no
onnOsitiOn to him. This time Albemarle.
Augusta, Rockingham, and Shenandoah,
who cast 1892 votes Ut the 1888 re-
presented in it, will all come with popu-