Fall 2024

Table of Contents:

• A Letter from Our History Team
• Jonesboro Settlement
• From the Archives: Wish You Were Here
• Revolutionary Reminiscences
• Henrico County & the 250th Commemoration
• Down on the Farm
• Rec & Parks App

Greetings!

We hope this newsletter finds everyone healthy and in good spirits as the holiday season approaches. We are keeping it short and sweet this round, with hopefully a little something for everyone. 

A new feature for this newsletter is the history of various communities across the county. First up is the Jonesboro community, the project which centered on empowering African Americans during Jim Crow and the inspiration of Dr. Robert Emmett Jones. In keeping with the community theme, staff explores the position and relationship of the Quaker community to the local Revolutionary War efforts. Staff will continue to research and share the stories of Henrico people, places, and events that impacted not just the Colonies’ fight for independence between 1776 and 1782, but the lives of families on the home front. Also, look out for program updates as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and learn about events that happened right here in Henrico!

We have brought back “from the archives/collection” for this issue with a fun look at postcards from eras long ago. We look forward to sharing the gems in the county’s museum collection not only in the newsletter, but at the Recreation and Parks Main Office. Please come by and see the newly installed exhibit at 6800 Staples Mill Road, Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 4:30pm. 

As I have said many times, History is all around us! Stories of our past entertain us, teach us and help us evolve into a society we can celebrate by always learning from our collective successes and failures. Additionally, discovering history through historic programming and site visitation is a family adventure. So come visit us November 23 at Walkerton Tavern from 2-4pm for Tea at the Tavern, our signature Henrico 250th event.

We will return in the spring with more stories of the Henrico journey so until then, we wish you Happy Holidays and a New Year full of history!

Sincerely,

Kim Sicola

Recreation Manager, History

Henrico Recreation and Parks

Email us at REC-HistoryGroup@henrico.us

Excerpt “The History of Henrico County” p 406-408

Supplemented by Mary Ann Soldano

By the 1900s, African American entrepreneurs had established many enterprises in the Richmond area. Aside from the benevolent societies organized for the purpose of taking care of the sick and burying the dead and the Friend’s Orphan Asylum, there were two banks, several insurance companies and Union University. There were also, liveryman and funeral directors, retailers, lawyers, and an organized branch of the National Negro Business League. Board members who served on the League included Maggie L. Walker and Dr. Robert E. Jones. 

Born in Greensboro, Alabama on June 15, 1860, Robert Emmett Jones graduated from the University of Michigan with a Medical Degree in 1881 and was the only African American in his graduating class of one hundred students. He moved to Richmond in 1882 and began his practice at his Leigh Street home which he had purchased in 1889. The success of his practice required an addition to be built for an office. He visited his patients in his own buggy and later often drove “a double team or had his coachman attired in livery handling the reins …”. Dr. Jones was admired as a “remarkable character” whose “skill as a physician [was] unquestioned” concluded a reporter from the Richmond Planet in 1895. He organized The Woman’s Central League for the purpose of training African American women for nursing and the medical assistance profession. They were housed in a large building at Clay and Marshall, under the management of Dr. Robert E. Jones who also ran a hospital for African American patients. 

Dr. Jones organized a group of investors interested in developing an African American community near the Fort Lee station on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Joined by Dr. P. R. Ramsey, Dr. E. R. Jefferson and John H. Braxton, Dr. Jones was the prime mover in the acquisition of eight hundred acres situated between the railroad and White Oak Swamp from the National Bank of Fredericksburg. The Richmond Times announced that the proposed community would include a village of fifty to sixty houses for 350 to 400 people. Each household would be assigned five acres of land for a garden that was within a ten to fifteen-minute walk of their house. Villagers would be allowed to keep cows on a ten-acre section set aside for grazing, and fifty acres would be set aside for a park. The balance of land would be set aside for cultivation and would include family gardens, orchards and small farms for trucking.

Dr. Jones was confident that the village of Jonesboro would be a success. He told the reporter “there will be no trouble in getting ‘settlers’, as already several applications have been received.” This was in November 1901, and Jones expected the construction of houses to begin in the spring of 1902. The official opening of Jonesboro occurred on June 9, 1902. Dignitaries from the city, county, and railroad arrived at what was then Fort Lee station on a special train. There, in a new pavilion constructed of logs, the inaugural program consisted of a number of short addresses explaining the plan of development. “The members of the Women’s Training School and Hospital and all the colored ministers of the city” were to be present. He wanted the Women’s League Training School to have charge of the affairs of the community after it was started. Dr. Jones and his wife, Ellen Jane “Daisy” whom he married in 1884, sold their property at 110 East Leigh Street in Richmond to their close friend Maggie L. Walker, for forty-eight hundred dollars in 1904. Dr. Jones planned to move to the settlement of Jonesboro that he was founding six miles outside of Richmond in the spring of 1905. 

A plan of the Jonesboro community was laid out by T. Crawford Redd and Brothers in July 1902. As laid out, the village would consist of 292 house lots, not the fifty or sixty originally noted earlier. This plat was admitted into record December 16, 1905, in the Circuit Court of Henrico County. Dr. Jones and his wife invited his patients and friends to the opening of their brick dwelling “The Ann Arbor” in Jonesboro at Fort Lee on August 8, 1905. The name a nod to his former medical Alma Mater in Michigan.

Jonesboro Land and Improvement Company at the Bank of Commerce opened property sales in 1905. Parcels were sold to some thirty-seven individuals and two organizations. The Negro Historical and Industrial Association would acquire one hundred acres in 1913. Dr. Jones also had plans for establishing a school at Jonesboro. Setting aside ten acres for the school, he proposed building a four-room schoolhouse. Appearing before the district and county school boards at a joint meeting in the courthouse, he stated that “the proposed school would teach both grammar and high school branches, and also instruct in useful trades such as cooking, and domestic arts, agriculture, carpentering, etc.” Since there was already a one-room African American school near Fort Lee and a one-room African American school not too far from Fort Lee in the Fairfield District, board members favored Dr. Jones’ proposed “Industrial School” and referred the matter to a special committee for further investigation. The Richmond Times-Dispatch in September 1907 reported the closing of the area one-room schools and centralizing the effort with the Industrial school. The Industrial school would be ready to open October 1. Dr. Jones also advised board members that the Jonesboro community intended to operate a department for securing employment for competent graduates. How this proposal faired is unknown.

The land which comprised the Jonesboro Community was soon needed for the war effort. The Fort Lee Corporation bought the Jonesboro land for a proposed WWI powder packing plant, and it also acquired the land from those who had settled in Jonesboro Village. This was in 1918, when the Fort Lee Corporation sold the land to the United States for a munitions plant. The property would later become the site for Byrd Airport.

Dr. Robert E. Jones continued his practice in Richmond until 1920 when he retired and moved to Philadelphia. His first wife, Ellen Jane “Daisy” McLinn, born in New Haven, Connecticut, 1861, had died February 6, 1918, in Richmond City. They had five sons. He married his second wife Lela Walker Bryant in 1920. She was a well-known dramatist who operated a school in dramatics and dance in Philadelphia. Jones was at one time Grand Master of Masons for the State of Virginia, exalted ruler of the Capital City Lodge of Elks, of Richmond, and Worthy Chief of the order of St Luke. At Robert E. Jones’ death, funeral services were conducted at Third Street Methodist Church in Richmond on December 8, 1934, and burial at Woodlawn Cemetery Section L.

Dr. Jones established his legacy as a visionary for the advancement of African Americans through his advocacy and work in education and community development in early 20th century Richmond.

Postcards from the Crump Collection

In a world of smart phones, social media and instant connections to family and friends the postcard could be considered a relic of the past. Since this newsletter is about just that, the past, enjoy this virtual exhibit from the county archives. 

Sheppard and Elizabeth Adam Crump traveled extensively throughout their lives both domestically and abroad. This series of postcards shows just a few of the places around this country they explored individually and as a couple between 1909 and 1965.

By Lisa Denton

Revolutionary Reminiscences

Two hundred fifty years ago, Henrico residents were confronted with probably the most important decision of their lives – support the king and Loyalists or join the Patriot cause protesting against Parliament and monarchy. Residents from all socio-economic, religious and racial backgrounds pledged support by giving money, supplies and even themselves in the hopes of success in their causes. This new column will feature the latest research highlighting brief stories of Henrico’s people during the Revolutionary War era.

Quaker Quandaries

Eastern Henrico had been home to people of the Quaker faith (also known as Society of Friends) since at least the early 1700s. The colonies were not as religiously free as believed. Quakers refused to pay tithes and support of ministers to the Church of England. They also did not join in the required local militia trainings. Local religious and government leaders often penalized Quakers with jail time and fines for their non-cooperation. They quietly reported, recorded, and endured seizures of their possessions as punishment for breaking these laws. Despite these social, political and religious hardships, the Quaker community in Henrico and surrounding areas steadily grew.

By the 1760s, their lives seemed to be somewhat stable. Yet with increasing hostility between colonists and Great Britain, Henrico Quakers faced additional pressures to take sides. Just as the Friends seemed to be growing their community, the concept of liberty – and to whom it applied and how to achieve it – began to fracture their church. Neither the Loyalists nor the Patriots liked the Quakers for being neutral. Once the war was fully underway, local officials seized supplies and taxed residents, often subjecting Quakers to additional crippling taxes. Between 1780-1782, prominent local Quaker, Robert Pleasants reported to Henrico Court to be reimbursed for 137 pounds of lamb, 18 pounds of pork, 325 pounds beef and damages done by troops, totaling £22,10 pence, and 8 ½ shillings. In September 1780, Pleasants wrote to Henrico militia leader Colonel Turner Southall to protest being subjected to triple taxation. For Charles Woodson, the impact was even more than barrels of corn and oats and 700 pounds of beef. Continental forces impressed his ferryboat using it to move more than 500 cattle and made hundreds of other crossings with his ferry. Woodson reported claims to Henrico County for more than £36.

Henrico Heresies

Quakers took their vow of neutrality so seriously that even paying a fine for not hiring a military substitute could result in serious consequences including permanent dismissal from the Quaker church. Not every member of the Quaker community felt they could only observe the war of words and the increasing violence, a few young men caught “war fever.” The range of support for the Patriot forces varied between individuals from contributing supplies or hiring a substitute to joining the militia or continental forces. At least three Henrico Quaker families fractured between adhering to non-violence versus supporting the growing movement of American’s notion of defending liberty. More than likely, there were other Quaker families in Henrico battling a schism within their household, but these are a few individuals the latest research has revealed.

Fighting Quakers: Woodson Brothers

The Woodson family experienced their split in the early war years. Head of family, Charles Sr., and his wife Agnes Parsons Woodson, both grew up in the Quaker faith. He had managed to be excused from military service in 1767. As the last days of summer 1775 arrived, Frederick and George, (sons of Charles, Sr.), both members of the Curles Meeting House, were reported in the church’s records as having enlisted as soldiers. Just three months later their brother Tarleton also joined the Patriot forces.

George Woodson, the oldest brother, was 28 years old in 1775. He is briefly mentioned as having served in 1775-1776 as a Captain. However, no detailed information about his service has been found at this time. George survived the war and settled on a farm in Chesterfield County until his death in 1800. 

Twenty-one-year-old Tarleton became an ensign in the 1st battalion of Virginia’s provincial forces on September 16,1775. In October 1776, Lieutenant Woodson served as quartermaster for the 1st Virginia Regiment. On December 3, 1776, he was appointed Captain of the 10th Virginia but resigned in late May to serve as a major and adjutant in the 14th Virginia. Tarleton was captured on August 22, 1777, and held as a prisoner at Staten Island, New York. While in New York, perhaps after his release but before returning to duty, he met and married Anne Van Der Veer. He returned to duty by late April 1780 and was present at Yorktown for Cornwallis’ surrender. Tarleton resigned his appointment as captain on March 1, 1782, and moved to property in Prince Edward County to raise a family. He served as a Major General in the state militia.

The youngest of the Woodson brothers, Frederick, was only 19 years old when he joined the 1st Virginia Regiment. While records aren’t clear about Frederick’s early war service, by April 1777 he was serving as an officer with rank of Ensign. As the unit was incorporated into the Continental Army he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in June and ordered to join Washington’s army. Frederick was with the army as it fought around the Northern colonies. The second half of 1778 was spent in New York from White Plains to West Point. He spent the winter with nearly 10,000 troops at Middlebrook, New Jersey from December 1778 to June 1779. By November of 1779, Frederick was in Philadelphia. As the war shifted south, Frederick also moved south at some point, though the records aren’t clear on the timeline. Fellow officer Captain John Nicholas reported Woodson was sent by Baron von Steuben from the south side of the James River to meet British General Benedict Arnold’s forces in January 1781. They followed the retreating British troops east through Richmond and said Frederick “rendered essential service in the action at Shirly [sic]…and that he continued with me till the end of the Siege at York[town]. Nicholas wrote of Frederick “that a more gallant, vigilant & valuable officer of his rank…belong[ed] to the Revolutionary Army.” After the war, Frederick moved to a 600-acre farm in Powhatan. He never married and died in 1817 at the age of 61.

It is difficult to know how their parents, Charles and Agnes, reacted to the three brothers not just supporting but actively joining the Patriot cause. There was a great deal of social, political, and legal pressure to choose sides. Young men were often easily swept up in the fervor of a cause and possibility of a short war. There is some indication that their father gradually became disillusioned with the Quaker faith as the leaders increasingly pushed its membership towards supporting abolition of slavery within its membership. The supporting evidence that leads us to this theory is that Charles Woodson still held in bondage his enslaved people after the Revolutionary War. Virginia Quakers were caught yet again between their church edicts and state’s laws, making it nearly impossible to manumit slaves. Not until Quaker leader Robert Pleasants fought and eventually won in the year 1799 the largest manumission case in U.S. history did Virginia allow individuals to free their enslaved. Charles Woodson, Sr. continued to convey 33 enslaved people to his children in the years leading up to his death from 1781-1793 and at the time of his death. His son, George, passed at least two enslaved he received from his father on to the next generation. In 1810, Tarleton who was living in Prince Edward County reported 48 enslaved people. His brother, Frederick, appeared in the Powhatan County census with 19 enslaved people. Frederick freed just 3 of them in his will – Betty and her children, John and Caroline Matilda – and provided them money to live on and an apprenticeship for the boy. 

Join us in our future newsletters for more stories of Henrico residents and their lives during the founding events of our nation.

Virginia 250 Website

Hello everyone!

Poppy

Meryl

My name is Poppy the Campine and I’m Meryl the Dominque. We are the unofficial "spokeschickens" here at Meadow Farm. We just arrived this summer as chicks, but now we are all grown up and living in the “coop” de ville of chicken houses.

Campine chickens have a long and rich history. We come from Belgium. I heard a story that Julius Caesar took Campines back with him after he looted Belgium.

Campines are basically newcomers to America, only arriving in 1893. We Dominques, on the other wing, have been here since at least the 1750s. We have also been called Pilgrim fowl because some believe we came over with the Pilgrims. They say Abraham Lincoln kept a flock of Dominques, which I think is better than being stolen by Julius Caesar. As for where we came from, well, don’t you think a girl must keep some mystery about her?

We may not agree with each other on which breed is best, but Meryl and I both think Meadow Farm is the best place to live! The animal care team is doing a great job making sure everyone on the farm is being taken care of. I heard Kate Olsen, animal care specialist, talking about the pigs playing with bubbles. I think they all could use a bubble bath!

Jenn Burghoffer, animal care specialist, said something about the cows getting “browse enrichment,” but it just looked like tree limbs to me. Of course, we chickens are getting all the finest accessories with perches and plants and all sorts of interesting things to see and do. 

Poppy is right that Meadow Farm is the finest place to lay your feathers. It’s also a really busy place! It sounded like everyone in the county was here for Independence Day. The weather interrupted some of the pre-show activities and the concert had to end a bit early, but everyone still seemed to have fun. I heard Kim, history facility coordinator, say that the weather put a bit of a damper on the Dog Days of Summer event. The weather was fine on the farm, but there were thunderstorms in many other places. There was still a good turnout. They had a Holiday Artisan Market on November 2. I know I was looking to get my shopping done early, but Jim Weinpress, the zoological manager, reminded me that I don’t have any money. I wonder if any of the vendors would have taken eggs as payment…Hmmm.

Even with winter coming, the farm doesn’t seem to be slowing down any! The history team has some interesting programs coming up. Mark Shubert, history recreation specialist, will be doing tours at Woodland Cemetery in December, January, and February. That’s too far for us to fly, but maybe we can get the scratch notes version? February is chock full of African American history month programming from programs on Amaza Lee Meredith, who was a regional architect; to Last Seen: Finding Family After the Civil War, about how African American families tried to reconnect after the enslavement ended; The Ragged Road of Reconstruction: Education, featuring Virginia Randolph and how she and other educators immediately after the Civil War worked hard to teach the formerly enslaved; to a puppet show where Pearl the Puppet meets an enslaved spy from the American Revolution named James Lafayette. Sandy Satterwhite, history recreation specialist, does puppet shows usually twice a month. Pearl is the go-to puppet, but recently a ghost rabbit made an appearance in time for Halloween. I wonder if she would consider adding a chicken…

We both hope to see you out at the farm soon!

Poppy & Meryl

(Translation courtesy of Kim Schmidtmann)