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You are here:Page 1 Gadd Family - Andrew and Delilah Gadd Go to Gadd Family Page 2 - Powell Gadd & Emma Martin Gadd Family Page 3 - William H. Gadd Page 4 Gadd Family - The Martins Page 5 Gadds in the military
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GADD FAMILY OF VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA
Andrew Powhatan Gadd and Delilah Ferguson
Updated Sept. 7, 2024. West Virginia Vital Research Records recently changed its site. Most links here won’t work (I am trying to switch over) but you can still access the information by going directly to the Vital Records page.
Gadd -- origin of surname. "English - occupational; from Middle English meaning 'goad, spike,' referring to a cattle driver." (“The Wordsworth Dictionary of Surnames,” Terry Freedman & Iseabail Macleod, 1997, Wordsworth Editions, Hertfordshire, Page 89.)
Gadd Genealogy by Joseph Hayden Gadd (1939, Princeton, W.Va.) is online at HathiTrust Digital Library.
Andrew Powhatan Gadd was born 26 Sept 1828 a son of James Gadd (Franklin County, Va., 1808/29 June 1888) and his wife Rhoda Thornton.* Andrew died on 30 March 1909. Andrew and Delilah Ferguson married on 25 Feb 1851 and "from the date of his marriage until his death he lived on a farm near Flat Top, in Mercer County, West Virginia." (Gadd Genealogy by Joseph Hayden Gadd, Princeton, W.Va., 1939, Page 10.) According to a 1999 e-mail from a Ferguson researcher, Delilah Ferguson was born around 23 Feb 1831 in Bedford Co., Va., a daughter of Jesse Ferguson and his wife Elizabeth Hatcher. However, the birthdate on Delilah's tombstone appears to be 31 March 1829. Delilah died in 1903. According to a 1999 article (see link below), Andrew and Delilah are buried in the Flat Top Cemetery on Toad Level Road. Another source describes the graveyard as the Gadd Cemetery, located on the old Gadd Farm on a private road off Rt. 21, near Flat Top. Andrew's tombstone and marker. Delilah's tombstone.
*James Gadd, son of William Warwick Gadd (abt. 1780/died 1870) and wife Dicie. “James Gadd was b. in Franklin county, Virginia, 1808, and d. June 29, 1888, and is buried in Reynolds cemetery two miles northwest of Cowen, West Virginia. He married Rhoda Thornton (dau. Sterling Thornton and wife Sally Mosley) in 1826, and the tradition is that the reason he did not move to Kentucky with his father and other members of the family (in March 1833) was that his wife would not agree to leave her people. He acquired lands in Franklin county and lived there until about 1840, when he sold his lands and moved to Wyoming county, now West Virginia, where he purchased lands and lived until about 1870 when he moved to Webster county. They had the following children, Andrew. P., Sanford, Wilson T., James Jr., Sarah A. and Harriet E.” (Gadd Genealogy, Page 6-7.)
Photos: 1. Andrew P. Gadd (Courtesy of Lelia Fix) 2. Andrew P. Gadd (Courtesy of Oron Cooper. 3. William H. and father Andrew Powhatan Gadd The woman in the photo is probably Andrew's daughter Electra Gadd Harvey. (Photo courtesy of Randall Reno) Newsclips: Gadd honored at Civil War dedication ceremony - 20 July 1999, The Raleigh Explorer. (Courtesy of Carla.) Bug Dust columns by Cordie Nugen: Part 1, Flat Top Civil War Activities Reviewed, Raleigh Register, Beckley, W.Va., 02 May 1961, Page 4. Part 2, Gravestone Marks Battle of Flat Top, Raleigh Register, 03 May 1961, Page 4.
Andrew was a Confederate soldier. The West Virginia Civil War Almanac, Vol. 1, (1998) by Tim McKinney, Page 245, has Pvt. Andrew P. Gadd, 23 VAI (Virginia Infantry) CSA, served 9/62 to 4/65. “Flat Top Civil War Activities Reviewed,” a 1961 Bug Dust column by Cordie Cole Nugen, Raleigh Register, Beckley, W.Va., (see link above) contains information about Andrew’s company. Second lieutenant Andrew P. Gadd is listed as part of Company F, 151st Virginia militia, also known as Foley’s Fighters and Foley’s Copperheads for their leader, Capt. Richard B. Foley, who lived near Camp Creek and began organizing the company in July 1861. The article states that the records of the Confederacy at Richmond, Va., have this company being officially organized in Mercer County on 22 Aug 1861.
"He (Andrew) served in the Confederate Army, and was Second Lieutenant in Co. F., 151 Virginia Militia (Vol. 20, P. 265, Confederate records, Richmond). He was in the battle of Cedar Creek, New Market, Fredericksburg and other battles. His brother, Sanford Gadd, was killed in the battle of New Market." (Gadd Genealogy, Page 10.)
According to Civil War reference “look ups” shared by an online genealogist, Andrew and his brother Sanford P. Gadd fought at the Battle of New Market in Virginia and Sanford was killed on 15 May 1864. S.P. Gadd: New Market tombstone. Andrew was captured at Winchester, Va., on 19 Sept 1864 and sent to Point Lookout, Md. (Point Lookout POW Descendants Organization ) Andrew was exchanged on 15 March 1865, “for Isaac French McKinney of the 22nd VA.” The 1890 Veterans Schedule for Jumping Branch, Summers County, W.Va., Line 40, says Andrew was in prison for five months.
There is an account of the brothers' experience in Gadd Genealogy:
“Sanford Gadd and his brother Andrew P. were together in the battle of New Market, and in previous battles, and Andrew P. Gadd in relating his war experiences always referred to New Market with pathos in his voice. He related how he and his brother Sanford, on the night before the battle, were discussing the beauty of the country and the spring time, and were wondering if their wives had planted their corn, and how they were getting along, and then Sanford said, ‘Andrew, I have a premonition that one of us will be killed tomorrow, and I don't know which one, but this is our last night together, one of us will go tomorrow,’ and when the battle was over, it was Sanford that had made the supreme sacrifice.” (Gadd Genealogy, Page 10.)
Andrew Powhatan Gadd - Civil War - Parole of Honor. (Courtesy of Cousin Tom) This oath was signed on 27 June 1865, in Charleston, W.Va. Andrew promised to "hereby give this my Parole of Honor, that I will not take up arms against the United States Government, until I am regularly exchanged; and that if I am permitted to remain at my home, I will conduct myself as a good and peaceable citizen, and will respect the laws in force where I reside, and will do nothing to the detriment of, or in opposition to, the U.S. Government." The document includes a description: Age 37; Height, 5 ft. 9; Complexion, fair; Eyes, blue; Hair, dark; and Whiskers, sandy.
Children of Delilah and Andrew
ELECTRA ADELINE GADD, born 11 Nov 1851, in Wyoming, Va.; died 20 May 1925. Electra married Adam Miller Harvey, son of Jacob White Harvey and Sarah Comer Harvey, in 1871 in Mercer County, W.Va. Marriage record. Harvey family photo (Thank you, Ruby.) They were buried in the Gadd Cemetery. Find A Grave Memorial 92551923 and Find A Grave Memorial 88530022.
Children were:
1. James Henry Harvey, born 15 Jan 1872. Wyoming County, W.Va., and died 15 Nov 1955 at Cool Ridge, W.Va. He was a retired teacher. Burial was in the Calfee Cemetery at Mt. Tabor, Raleigh County, W.Va. Find a Grave. Obituary James married Brook Clark, born 04 Dec 1873 at Camp Creek, W.Va., and died 01 May 1954, Raleigh County. Clark-Harvey marriage record. Death record of Mrs. Harvey. Obituary.
2. Virginia Emma Texas Harvey, born 13 May 1873, Mercer County, W.Va. (West Virginia, Births Index, 1853-1969. FHL Film Number: 804467). Married William Green Meador, born about 1860, son of Woodson and Amanda, in 1886, Mercer County. Marriage record.
3. Clowney Lee Harvey. He was born 06 Jun 1875 (World War I draft card). Clowney died 05 Jan 1957. Death record. Clowney married Leona Alvatine Walker in 1893 in Raleigh County, W.Va. Leona was born on 14 Nov 1877, a daughter of Numa C.C. Walker and wife Sarah E. Wood. Leona died on 07 Aug 1946 in Raleigh County, W.Va. Marriage record link. Leona's death record link. They were buried in Calfee Cemetery, Mt. Tabor, Raleigh County, W.Va., Find A Grave Memorial 70338152 and 70338454.
4. Lewis Wetzel Harvey, born 27 Feb 1877, Flat Top, Mercer County, W.Va., died 11 Feb 1961, Mercer County, W.Va. He was a retired store merchant. Death record link. He married Mary Ann Lilly in 1895 in Mercer County. Marriage record link. They are buried in Resthaven Memorial Cemetery in Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., Find A Grave Memorial 114502491.
5. Alonzo Everett Harvey, born 02 Nov 1879 in Mercer County. (West Virginia, Births Index, 1853-1969) He married Mary Elizabeth Meadows in 1919 in Raleigh County. Marriage record link. He died 25 Jan 1953 in Raleigh County, W.Va. Death record link. Alonzo's obituary. Alonzo is buried in the Harvey Family Cemetery on White Oak Mountain, Raleigh County, W.Va., Find A Grave Memorial 152801180 and Mary is buried in Restwood Cemetery, Summers County, W.Va., Find A Grave Memorial 104873086. Photos: Alonzo, Alonzo 2, Mary.
6. Brady Britton Harvey. Obituary. (Son Lewis D. obit.) Brady and wife Martha Meadows are buried in the Williams Cemetery, White Oak, Raleigh County, W.Va., Find A Grave Memorial 124899288 and 124899477.
7. Willa "Willie" M. Harvey was born 02 Feb 1891 in Mercer County. Birth record link. Willa taught at Table Rock School. She married Pascal Meadows in 1914 in Raleigh County. Marriage record link. Willa died on 16 Aug 1969, Raleigh County. They are buried in Restwood Memorial Cemetery, Hinton, Summers County, W.Va. Find A Grave Memorial 114012701 and 113886995. Willa's obituary. Pascal's obituary.
POWELL WADE GADD, born 15 Sept 1853, in W.Va./died 26 July 1924 in W.Va. Married Emma Melissa Martin. For more information on the Powell Gadd family, go to Gadd Page 2.
WILLIAM HARRISON GADD, born 17 Feb 1855/ died 10 Oct 1926. (Source: Cousin Randall). WV Project birth record. Married Lourinda Ellen Wood (1857 North Carolina/1898 Dewey, Mercer County, W.Va.) and Clara Catherine Akers (1860-1962). Obituary. For more information about the W.H. Gadd family, go to Gadd Page 3.
JOSEPH B. GADD, born 5 July 1857, Flat Top, W.Va./died 20 April 1953, Matoaka, W.Va. (WV Project birth record - looks like 1857 in original record, index wrong? He married Emma Howell on 11 March 1879. WV Project marriage record. (Note: Elizabeth's, Mary Ann's and Joseph B.'s marriages are recorded on the same document containing 1879-80 weddings.) Emma was born in 1862 in Virginia, a daughter of John D. Howell and Leatha Massie Howell. Joseph's obituary. Death record. Emma died in 1934. Emma's death notice. Death record. They are buried in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery, Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va. Find A Grave Memorial 70810280 and 70810830.
SARAH MILLICENT (MILLIE) GADD, born 24 July 1858, Flat Top, W.Va./died 25 Dec 1947, in Ghent, W.Va. Husband, John Cooper (1851-1920) Find A Grave Memorial 46764289. Sarah: WV Project birth record, marriage record, death certificate. Find A Grave Memorial 19416375 Photo: Sarah and John. Photo: Sarah Millicent Gadd; Photo 2. Newsclip - Five generations meet at Ghent (Photos and newclip, courtesy GGLCHC) The 1942 newsclip says that Mrs. Cooper had 16 children, 11 living at that point.
1. William Lewis Cooper (1873-1940). Find A Grave Memorial 46764863.
2. Andrew Anson Cooper (1875-1939). Find A Grave Memorial 20721432.
3. Mary Elizabeth Cooper Meadows (1877-1959). Find A Grave Memorial 28796001.
4. John Jackson Cooper (1878-1963). Find A Grave Memorial 144396612.
6. James Oliver Cooper (1881-1951). Find A Grave Memorial 96778333.
7. Ona “Oney” Elsie Cooper (Thompson) Stover (1883-1970). Find A Grave Memorial 132118627.
8. Thomas Quincy Cooper (1885-1887). Find A Grave Memorial 46765379.
9. Elbert Simeon Cooper (1887-1949). Find A Grave Memorial 144507892.
10. Azel Cooper (1889-1972). Find A Grave Memorial 158384381.
11. Joseph Cooper (1891-1892). Find A Grave Memorial 46765633.
12. Allie Dora Cooper Green (1893-1977). Find A Grave Memorial 44118189.
13. Hallie Nora Cooper Canaday (1893-1970). Find A Grave Memorial 136854337.
14. Eliza J. Cooper (1895-1895). Find A Grave Memorial 46765713.
15. Lucinda Cooper McKinney (1896-1966). Find A Grave Memorial 188537980.
16. Verena May Cooper Cadle (1899-1993). Find A Grave Memorial 154745425.
ELIZABETH RHODA GADD, born about 1862. Rhoda, 17, married Barnett Jefferson Snead, 19, (or Sneed?) 27 Nov 1879, Mercer County, W.Va. WV Project marriage record. In 1904, Rhoda E. Sneed, 42, a widow, married Lynch Graham, 48, a widower, in Mercer County. Marriage record. Mr. Graham, 18, had married Nancy M. Howell, 18, in 1875 in Mercer. Marriage record. Lynch Graham: Find a Grave. Children:
1. Roxanna A. Sneed 18 July 1881, Raleigh County, W.Va., birth record. Married William A. Neely.
2. Dolcy Evelyn Sneed born 3 April 1882. Married Abraham (Abram) H. Hylton in 1904, Mercer County. Marriage record. Dolcy died 09 Nov 1959.
3. Malissa J. Sneed born 22 Oct 1884. Married Rufus Clark in 1903, Mercer County. Marriage record.
4. Clara Edna Sneed born 04 Dec 1886. Married Samuel D. Harvey in 1906, Mercer County. Marriage record. The Rev. Samuel D. Harvey, preacher and farmer, was born 27 June 1882, Flat Top, Mercer, and died 05 May 1947 Dawson, Greenbrier County, W.Va. Death record.
5. John Quincy Sneed born 23 Nov 1889/died at 16 on 3 Aug 1906 at Flat Top, Mercer, from an accidental gunshot wound. Death record.
6. Bessie Pearl Sneed born 16 April 1893. Married Levi H. Shrewsberry in 1909, Mercer County. Marriage record.
7. Mary Alice Sneed, 02 Oct 1895, Raleigh County, birth record. Elmot Cunningham, 13 Aug 1896/06 Oct 1962 in Mercer County. Death Record. Mary and Elmot married in 1915, Mercer County. Marriage record.
MARY ANN (MOLLIE) GADD, born 09 Mar 1860/died 22 Sep 1934. Find a Grave: Mary A. Sneed. Mary Ann, 20, Married Charles W. Sneed, 20, on 26 Feb 1880, Mercer County. Find a Grave: Charles W. Sneed. Mary Ann's WV Project birth record. Death record. Marriage record
Children: found records for:
1. Vida B. Sneed, 17, married Charles Rumberg, 25, widower, 1902, Mercer County. Marriage record. Vida, born 16 Aug 1886, died 04 July 1930. Death record.
2. Jocie M. Sneed, 17, born in Raleigh Co., married Henry F. Ferguson, 23, born in Mercer Co., in 1901, marriage record.
3. Ira Sneed, (name from other source, William Sneed) born 15 Aug 1881 in Raleigh County, W.Va., birth record.
4. A. Snead, (name from other source, Oda Sneed) male, 22 Jan 1888, Raleigh County, birth record.
5. R.A. Sneed, female, (name from other source, Rosa A. Sneed) 02 Aug 1890, Mercer County, birth record.
6. Lina Sneed, (name from other source, Grace M. Sneed) 25 June 1894, Mercer County, birth record. 7. Minnie Sneed (listed on Ancestry.com, no other information available).
(Thanks to Randall for new information about Mary Ann and Elizabeth Rhoda and their families.)
VICTORIA M. GADD, born 22 Feb 1870 (death certificate date) in Flat Top, W.Va./died 24 Oct 1936, in Raleigh County, W.Va. Social note after funeral. Married Albert Pendleton Bonham, widowed, son of Nehemiah and Regina Bonham, on 27 Jan 1892. Victoria's birth record - 28 Oct/no year, Bonham-Gadd marriage record. A.P. Bonham's first wife was Amanda Jane Shumate, daughter of Wilson and Eliza Shumate. Albert and Amanda married in 1868. Bonham-Shumate marriage record. Amanda Bonham died 24 Oct 1888 in Summers County (West Virginia, Deaths Index, 1853-1973. FHL Film Number: 589344)
JOHN Q. A. GADD, born 27 Oct 1867. WV Project birth record. (Gadd Genealogy, Page 11, says John "died when he was 16 years old."). John died 30 Mar 1884 in Mercer County, W.Va., from a fever. Death record.
ANDREW JACKSON (JACK) GADD, born 1868. Birth Record. Married Mary Ann Waddle, 28 July 1885. Photos courtesy of GGLCHC. A niece said that he was a preacher and was called "Jack." According to information on Ancestry.com, he died in 1908. News brief, The Raleigh Herald, 23 July 1908, Page 1: Former Raleigh Man Dying. Obituary. Children -- Gadd Genealogy lists:
1. Lundy John Gadd, 27 Jan 1891, W.Va./30 July 1967, Charleston, W.Va. Obituaries. Birth record: J.L. Gadd, 1891
2. Edward Howard Gadd.
3. Pearlie (Phil) H. Gadd.
4. Earl William Gadd. Obituary.
5. Bennie Gadd. "the latter having married Frank Raines and lives at Buffalo, W.Va." Her 1965 obituary has her name as Binnie P. Raynes. B. P. Gadd, 1889 B.P. is a male, according to the record. But I am guessing that is Binnie. Frank Raynes - Find a Grave with photo. Binnie Pine Gadd Raynes - Find a Grave with photo.
ELIZA JANE GADD, born 09 April 1871) and died 09 Oct 1958 in Raleigh County, W.Va. Death certificate. Married C.C. "Lum" Farley (widower) 20 Sept 1899. Eliza and Lum's 1899 marriage record His first wife was Etta Akers, daughter of John and Virginia. Etta and Lum's 1894 marriage record. Mr. Farley was a brother to J.Q. Farley who married Eliza Jane's niece Eliza Ann Gadd, daughter of William Harrison Gadd.) (See Eliza Ann Gadd Farley Gadd Page 3.) (C.C. and J.Q. Farley were sons of John Farley and Mary Jane Ellison. Mary Jane Ellison Farley and sons)
