Andrew Russell Barbee , Jr . Andrew Russell Barbee , Jr . ( December 9 , 1827 – August 5 , 1903 ) was a surgeon in the Confederate service during the American Civil War . He was president of the U . S . Board of Pension Examiners , and secretary of the State Board of Health . While a member of the West Virginia Senate , he was the author of the bill regulating the practice of medicine and surgery , and that creating the State Board of Health . Early years . The family descends from the French - Huguenot John Barbee who settled in Virginia . Barbee was born in Hawsburg ( or Hawburg ) , Rappahannock County , Virginia . He was one of eleven children of Andrew Russell Barbee , Sr . ( alternate : Andrew Russel Barbee , Sr . ) of French and Welsh descent , and Nancy ( née Britton ) Barbee , of Irish and German descent . Andrew Sr . operated a toll road through Thornton Gap ; the family resided at a lodge at the edge of the road . His siblings included brothers George ( b . 1811 ) , Ely ( b . 1812 ) , Col . Gabriel Thomas ( 1814 – 1908 ) , the sculptor William Randolph ( 1818 – 1868 ) , Lewis Conner ( 1821 – 1877 ) , and Joseph ( b . 1832 ) ; and sisters Ellen ( b . 1815 ) , Mary ( b . 1823 ) , Martha ( b . 1828 ) , Laurina Caroline ( b . 1829 ) , and Adaline Catherine ( b . 1831 ) . Barbee was the nephew of General Patrick Henry Brittan , 10th Secretary of State of Alabama . Barbee had been a tanner by trade . He was educated at Petersburg , Virginia before studying medicine under Dr . J . J . Thompson of Luray , Virginia ( 1848 = 1849 ) at the University of Pennsylvania , and at Richmond Medical College ( 1849 – 1850 ) , before graduating M . D . in April , 1851 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine . Career . He began his early medical practice at Flint Hill , Rappahannock County , Virginia , before moving to Criglersville Madison County , Virginia in 1852 . Afterwards , he went to planting and farming at Poca , West Virginia , where he remained till the breaking out of the Civil war . His practice is general , but he has devoted himself particularly to surgery and chronic diseases . Although opposed to the principle or practice of secession , duty as a Virginian impelled Barbee to enter the Confederate army , referring to himself as a " protectionist , " and by no means a " civil service reformer . " In 1859 , during the excitement of the John Brown ' s raid on Harpers Ferry , he organized a volunteer company of militia under the laws of the state of Virginia , and when the state seceded in 1861 , the company enlisted in the Confederate service as Company A of the Twenty - second Virginia Regiment , and he commanded it as captain . He fought in the Kanawha valley campaign . On May 2 , 1862 , Barbee was promoted to lieutenant - colonel of the same regiment and served in that capacity until retired for disability , he having been wounded in the battle of Dry Creek , August 26 , 1863 . When recovered of his wounds in January 1864 , he retired from active service . He was subsequently assigned to duty in the medical department of the Confederate army ( with the rank of colonel ) , on the staff of Gen . John C . Breckinridge in a medico - military capacity , serving with him in the valley in 1864 . When Breckinridge was called to another department , Barbee was left colonel commanding , and chief medical officer . At a still later date , Barbee was assigned to the medical charge of the Virginia reserve forces of Southwest Virginia , and was in all the battles of that department . He retained this position till the surrender of Lee , at the Appomattox Court House . At the close of the war , Barbee located at Buffalo , West Virginia , later removing to Point Pleasant , West Virginia , and continuing the practice of the physician and surgeon . He was a member of the State Senate in 1880 - 1884 , serving one term of four years , at the end of which he was a candidate for Congress on the Republican ticket . Though twice a nominee for Congress , he was defeated both times . Barbee was a member of the Mason County Medical Association , Gallia County Medical Association , and of the Ohio Valley Medical Association . Also a member of the West Virginia State Medical Association , he was elected its president in 1875 . He held office as president and trustee of boards of education and other public bodies . Personal life . He married , on May 18 , 1852 , Margaret Ann Gillespie ( b . 1834 ) , daughter of Dr . John J . and Ann ( Arthur ) Thompson . The Barbee ' s children included John , Mary Blanche , Kate Louise , William , Ann Rebecca , and Hugh Arthur .