Here is an interesting memento given to me many years ago by my paternal grandfather, Ernest Chilton Lunsford, Sr. We're not exactly sure what it was used for but it might have been some kind of trivet or hot pad. The picture is covered by a clear plastic-like material sealed to a thin metal frame with closed metal backing. The surface also has a slight burn mark.
After scanning, enhancement and removal of the burn mark, we now have this more modern version. First appearing on my earlier family history web site from 2001, it since has been harvested by others (without permission) and a cropped version of the old man's face now appears on other genealogy web sites like Ancestry.com.
That old man is my great-great-grandfather, Elijah Chilton Lunceford. He is surrounded by his daughter-in-law and grandchildren. The daughter-in-law is my great grandmother, Ethel Maria (Wine) Lunsford. She is holding Lillian Harriet Lunsford, born on 9 Feb 1918. Assuming Lillian is around a year old in this picture, and that Elijah died on 13 Aug 1921, this picture was probably taken around 1920, give-or-take.
The child on Elijah's left is my grandfather, E. C. Lunsford Sr. On his right is Wilson Fairfax Lunsford. To Ethel's left is Crilly Marshall Lunsford. And the other girl is Maggie Florence Lunsford.
As a widower at that time, Elijah was living with his son (Edgar Marshall Lunsford). Cause of death was "infirmity of age" and "complications due to a fall and broke thigh at neck". Edgar was the informant. The attending physician first examined him on July 11, so I suspect that was about the time of his fall. This also confirms earlier census records showing his father being Benjamin Lunsford.
Living to the ripe old age of 92, his occupation was listed as "farmer". We also know from family lore that Elijah was a "waller" or stone mason who could build dry-lay stone walls around farm fields. Tim Lunceford recently uncovered further proof of this in an unrelated chancery suit where Elijah testified as having done a field wall stone job on a local farm.
Elijah was a member of Company-E, 43rd VA Cavalry (Mosby's Men). Company-E was formed rather late in the war at Upperville, VA on July 28, 1864. Right after formation the battalion left for a raid into Maryland, entering Adamstown the next day where Company-E was left behind to scout around further while the rest of the command returned to Virginia (1). We have no way of knowing whether Elijah participated in this Maryland raid.
Following the war, Elijah applied for and obtained a Virginia-state veterans pension based on his service with the Confederate Army (CSA). His primary complaint was "rheumatism" brought on by his war service. He is buried in the Marshall cemetery.
In 1940, Crilly Lunsford applied to the US government for Elijah's Confederate headstone. What is interesting here is that he definitely used the "s" spelling in the application whereas the War Department, after confirming with the Virginia State Library, changed the surname to the "ce" spelling to reflect the CSA records. Family lore suggested that Crilly preferred the "ce" spelling but that clearly was not the case here. Also of interest is the enlistment date of 1862. Either that is incorrect, or perhaps Elijah served in Mosby's command unattached to a specific company until the formation of Company-E in 1864.
Another interesting artifact is Elijah's razor. This is owned by Edgar Allen Lunsford and was passed down to him by Jerry Yowell of Marshall, VA
This is the best frontal picture we have of Elijah. It was cropped out of a group photo of the 5th Reunion of Mosby's Men, held on 25 October 1898 in Manassas, VA.
(1) Mosby's Rangers by J. D. Wert, p. 185. Simon and Schuster, 1990.
(1) Mosby's Rangers by J. D. Wert, p. 185. Simon and Schuster, 1990.
R. Dwayne Lunsford, PhD
