Northern Virginia, was born in Greenbrier county, now within the borders of West Virginia, in the year 1841. He was reared in his native county and given a good education at the university of Virginia, whence he entered the military service in July, 1861, as a member of the University Volunteers, an organization which was assigned to the Fifty-ninth Virginia regiment of infantry. He served as a private with this command until December following, when the company was disbanded. He then enlisted as a private in the Albemarle artillery, and continued with that organization until disabled by wounds. He participated in the battles of Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill, of the Peninsular campaign, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Winchester and Gettysburg, and Spottsylvania Court House. In the course of the several days' battle at the latter point in May, 1864, he received a wound in the left arm which necessitated amputation, and put an end to his service in the field. He was at the same time captured, and was afterward confined at the Old Capitol prison, Elmira, and Point Lookout, until December, when he was transported by ship to Savannah and exchanged. After the close of hostilities he engaged in teaching school, but two years later he began farming and continued in that occupation until 1889, since when he has given his attention to educational work again, making his home at Orange Court House. In 1872 he was married to Miss Sidney Davis, daughter of Gen. A. W. G. Davis, of Mississippi, and they have two sons grown to manhood: Alfred and John Lynn.
J. B. Prince, judge of the Southampton county court, was one of the gallant cadets of the Virginia military institute who participated with credit in the war of the Confederacy. He was born in Southampton county, August 18, 1844, the son of Joseph H. Prince, an attorney who represented Southampton county in the Virginia house of delegates and was descended from one of the oldest families of Virginia. The wife of the latter, and mother of Judge Prince, was Elizabeth B., daughter of Joseph W. Claud, also a native of Virginia. At the outbreak of the war Judge Prince was pursuing his youthful studies and he received a military training at the Virginia military institute, which fitted him, in 1864, for important service in the Confederate army. He was assigned to ordnance duty on the staff of Gen. Wade Hampton and was associated with that officer during his command of the cavalry of the army of Northern Virginia and his participation in the operations against Sherman in the Carolinas. Judge Prince rendered efficient service with the cavalry during 1864 and 1865, finally surrendering at Greensboro, N. C. He was paroled April 10, 1865, after which he returned to Virginia and resumed his studies. Deciding to embrace the profession of law he entered the university of Virginia in the law department and was graduated in 1867. He then made his home at Courtland and embarked in the practice in which he has since continued with notable success. During his career as an attorney he has enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice in the courts of Greenesville, Southampton and Sussex counties. For thirteen years he served as commonwealth attorney of Southampton county, held the office of clerk of the circuit and county courts during four years, and in 1891 was called to the
