Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-21
FATHER AND SON.

The papers recently announced the
death in Washington OF Mr.. Beverley
Blair Bolts, though but few spoke OF
him as the oldest son of the Hon. John
Minor Bolts, who was the great Wing
orator in this city at the breaking out
Of the war.
The elder Bolts lived for a long time In
Hanover, on beautiful plantation known
as Half Sink. Subsequently, Elba became
his home. Elba was fine old suburban
homestead that occupied most OF the
ground now bounded by Broad, Han
cock, Clay, and Graham streets, while
it was only separated by a lane now
Hancock street, from the celebrated
Buchanan spring property. At Elba MI.
Bolts had fine stable, including some
of the famous racers Of the day. Later.
we think, he lived in the house almost
directly opposite Clay-Street Methodist
church. and yet later he had place
on the Mechanicsville turnpike.
So Mr.. Bolts and his family were for
a long time residents of Richmond and
it's vicinity. Here, indeed. Mr. Beverly
Bolts spent most of his life up to the
outbreak of the war. He had qualified
himself for the practice Of the law at
William and Mary College and at Har-
ward. but he never practiced the profess
sion. He was said to have been unable
TO command sufficient self-possession to
rise in court and make the simplest mo-
ton. His father was bold. aggressive
man: but the son did not inherit those
characteristics The Bottses were Union
men, and never accepted secession In the
spirit that so many other Virginia union
lists did. Their position here was, there
fore, very unhappy one. and our re-
collection is that they were finally forced
to withdraw to Culpeper, which was al
ternately in the Confederate and in the
Union lines.
Mr.. John Minor Bolts survived the
war some years, and wrote out his re-
collections of the period, and they were
published in book form. Mr.. Beverley
Bolts held the Office of United States
Internal Revenue Collector for twelve
years. having received his first appoint
ment from General Grant, who was a
great friend of his fathers. His APP
po.ntment in the Western District ne
cessitated his removal from Culpeper,
and he made Harrisonburg his home, and
never returned to Culpeper to live.
Mr. Beverley Bolts had reached the
age of 81 years. when he was suddenly
stricken with death in Washington He
is survived by his wife and three daugh-
ters, and by two sisters-Mrs. Il. W.
Hoxey, of Brooklyn and Mrs. d. 5.
Lewis, Of Rockingham.
Mr.. Botts's widow is the daughter OF
the late General Samuel II. Lewis and
the granddaughter of the distinguished
iurist. Judge John Taylor Lomax. A
brother Of his, Lieutenant Bolts, OF the
United States army, lies buried In
| Shockoe Cemetery here. having met his
death in Mexico, we think. Long ago,
when Shockoe Cemetery was great pub
lie resort on Sunday afternoons, crowds
used TO stand in front OF young Botts's
| grave and lament his fate. The crossed
swords, cut deep in the granite shaft
marking the place of his burial, told the
story-a rare one in those days-of his
military service. Mr.. Beverley Bolts was
buried at Harrisonburg, which had long
been his home, but John Minor Bolts,
the orator, Wing leader. and congress-
man, rests in the family section In
Shockoe Cemetery.