Opposing Sides, Opposing Families

Once I started tracing my family, I was told that my grandfather’s family never liked his mothers family. But, no one knew why and I could not find anything in my research that would explain this. Until a few weeks ago. Of course, its pure speculation on my part. But, it is the only thing that makes any sort of sense.

Yesterday, I wrote about Washington Walker in my post Civil War Pension Records. Washington was a private in Company C of the 126th regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He fought for the Union.

The past week, as I was researching more into my Richmond line for the SNGF post, I came across a few other Civil War soldiers. The first soldier is Hughes Richmond, he was in Co. B, 16th Virginia Calvary. According to a newspaper article the family believed that Hughes was killed in the war, possibly at the battle of Gettysburg.¹ Hughes is my 3rd great grand uncle (there are some great pictures and more information on Hughes here). His brother David J. Warden also spent some time in the war, according to the same article. I do find David on the Soldiers and Sailors website. David fought with Hounshell’s Battalion, Virginia Calvary². Both Hughes and David fought for the Confederacy.

So, what does one have to do with the other? Great question!

The Wardens were a very prominent family in West Virginia. They settled the land that the family lived on and according to newspaper articles, they were the largest land owner at one time.³ The Walker family comes from Ohio and nothing spectacular has been found on the family. The Warden brothers have another brother, Robert. Robert and his wife Nancy are my fourth great grandparents. Robert and Nancy’s son David (named after the above soldier David) married Malissa Williams, they had daughter Nettie. Nettie married John E. Richmond and they had son William Hunter Richmond. Hunter married Edith Walker, she is the granddaughter of Washington Walker.

Confusing to follow, I know. The Wardens fought for Confederacy and the Walkers fought for the Union. It is the only thing I can find that would cause some sort of conflicts within the family.

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1. Thomas Warden Moved Into Raleigh in the 1830’s; Eldest Son Stood Six-Week Vigil in Wilderness, Beckley-Post Herald Centennial Edition, Saturday Morning, August 26, 1950 ↩

2. Soldiers and Sailors website ↩

3. Dream to Preserve Past Goes up in Smoke, Raleigh Register, Sunday, April 24, 1966 ↩

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