The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-05
COL, RICHARD IRBY
GOES TO HIS reward
CONTINUED from First Page.)

AZ tha tender age of fourteen, the sub
iect OF this sketch entered Randolph
Macon College. and was student at
that institution for five years, Wnere ne
was graduated with the degree OF a. o,
along with the late Bishop McIeire, OF
tennessee: John Howard, John Lyon.
William Campbell Of Virginia, most OF
whom are now dead.
Leaving college. he followed the taste
and example Of his foreIathers by pc
coming q tiller Of the soil on the pianta-
ton Of his mother, in partnership Win
one of his brothers. Up to the WaE' no
man of the family was known 70 oesei'
| the farm.
AS a farmer, he was eminentiy success
| fnI In 1858. with neighbors. he organized
| tha Farmers Club Of Nottoway, one or
| the most useful and active farmers as
| sociations ever formed IN the otaee, u
| which he was the first president he
same year young Irby was etecleo d
| member OF the Executive Committee OF
Tho state Agricultural Society. The
| draft of the premium list OF the 1lrst
! state Agricultural Society Fair was made
| nv him. He was connected officially with
| this society for over twenty years.
| Early in his active life. Mr.. 1rby added
| to his farming business that OF the man
| ufacture Of farm implements, Whlch was
very successful up to and dur I1r$, 'no !" a.
| A
! The war coming on. his business was
eiven IN at once, and he left for ser
| vice without days notice, not having:
| rad time to bid his loved ones goou-oSe-
az mis- war history, one of the lieutenan's
| ~ the company he commanded wrote US
| follows: ~
.He entered the service as first lieu
| tenant in the Nottoway GraEs' COIL
| nanv raised at Blackstone then BLACKS
| e I'll
Virginia Regiment. On account oi 'iie
sickness and delicate health OF Captain
Bens Connally, who was also brave
! and efficient officer, and resigned before
| twelve months had expired. LIEUTENANT
| Irby frequently commanded the coiiipa
| nv He was a strict officer ana peiie'eu
| in every man doing his duty, yet ne was
| kind and considerate OF his men i''eel eSss
| am SIRE he had the confidence ana
| .ffaction of every member of his com
| Y,,,y and no officer in the Eighteenth
| VIRGINIA Regiment was more hlSiuy es-
| teamed and respected When IN No'eni-
| har 1861. he resigned to take MS sea- III
the Legislature of Virginia, to which ne
| had been elected without an ellolI' d.
| most universal regret was eNpi es7e.t
| throughout the regiment. All 1eie thsS
49, ~ rtine with a good soldier, a faith
| f,l friend a true Christian. and a COM
| na+en+ snritual adviser. Consequently
| r,ra,, the question of reenlistlng began
~ ta talked about. all the members OF
his old company said Dick lrby must
he orr captain Accordingly ne vas
elected without opposition In April ioo-,
and served with distinguished eiiicieeS
and bravery until dlsap u ,r. ~ y
WOUNDED IN BAL LIE
~ .ho are living we'll remember
how, faithful he was to duty no" caii'liE
| ba stood at the first Manassas. anu nov
| f7rayelv he led at WilllamshuiS,
pines and second Manassas. Al the IDS
oared battle he was severely "o,'''''TN-
/, tha neck and shoulder while saiiaii.iS
loading the charge. winch dlSdp'eu 80
for a long time, and finally occasions" ilia
| transfer TO the commlsSary uepi,
in June, 1863, where he rendered hlost
~ service in getting supplies for
| the army. ot45oare
"He was q good organizer, ana olilceIS
and men relied upon his judgment he
| was tender and careful in looking altIt
+b, +annoral and spiritual welfare OF
his men.
PRAYED FOR HIS MEN.
His company passed through three Sc
we're pitched battles with only one MAN
| eliqttIv wounded So that it began TO
Ia nv the members of some of the
| other companies. which had lost heaVl-
" that the prayers of Captain Troy
,oa caved his company This at least
i1,,s>,.atas their confidence in him. lie did
rrav for his men They We're treated as
his family Every evening. when pracu-
cable. divine worship was held, LED oy
himself or some one appointed LOT iile
ournose And he IS still looking after
the remnant. They hold warm place III
his affections
No one but himself can tell how much
in getting up the records and the re-
unions writing the sketches, and other
things. besides looking after and proVld-
ing for the sick and disabled ones, ana
the widows and orphans OF those who
are dead.
-. LOVED AND HONORED.
az wish to say. further. we all still love
and honor him. Virginia, his native state.
and Nottoway. his native county and
residence for many years. may we'll feel
proud of such a citizen and such a SOL
der. Since the war he has proven him
self Just as diligent and faithful and
reliable wherever ne has labored. He has
served his church in its representative
councils in various ways While he is a
genuine Methodist yet he is full of the
catholicity of the Gopel. and numbers
his friends in all communions-
In the educational work of the church
and state ne mas rendered slShdi SCI VIE
He resides at Ashland Va, and is secre-
tary and treasurer of Randolph Macon
College. He is the senior member of the
board of trustees. and know I voice the
unanimous sentiment of that board when
/ say his services TO the college have
been almost invaluable. He We'll de-
serves the sobrduet, which he has won
and by which he is known. Old Relia-
BILE. Long may his useful life be spared
and his sunset, when it comes, may it be
glorious
TIE WAR OVER
The war over. Captain Erby returned
to farm and foundry and endeavored to
retrieve losses and carry on business as
before. This. however. was uphill work.
He was elected president Of the Peters
burg Iron Works in 1861 and in 1858 he
moved to Richmond TO engage in the stove
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