John Henry Ernest1

b. 7 May 1825, d. 3 March 1868
John Henry Earnest (cropped)
photo courtesy Bob Cooke
FatherJohn Hundley Ernest2
MotherMary Moore
Birth7 May 1825 John Henry Ernest was born on 7 May 1825 in Hanover County, Virginia.3,4,5 
Education1847 He graduated from William and Mary College in1847.5 
Marriage1 Nov 1849 John married Amanda Jane Byars, daughter of Col. William Byars and Elizabeth Beattie, on 1 Nov 1849 in Washington County, Virginia.1 
1850  Following their marriage the young couple lived with Amanda's father at Brook Hall. It was a spacious home with plenty of room for Amanda and John's growing family. Family tradition holds that Col. Byars promised Brook Hall to Amanda at the time of her marriage to John.6,7,8 
Public Serv1855  In 1855 John was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for Washington County and served until 1863.5 
Military  During the Civil War John served as Provost Marshal for the county. A slip of paper dated March 20, 1863 bears a sworn statement from Capt. J.H. Ernest noting that he received two horses from Capt. Rodefer for the use of the Provost Guard in hunting and capturing deserters in remote parts of the county. The horses were stolen by one of the Guard who then crossed into enemy territory. Other records show that throughout the war, John, as a private citizen, sold large quantities of beef, wheat and corn to the Confederate army. He also supplied them with hay.5,9 
Military  On Sept. 27, 1864 John enlisted in the Saltville Artillery, also known as Capt. William King's Co. of Light Artillery. There is only one entry in his Compiled Service file. It shows that Sergeant J.H. Ernest was present on the Company Muster Roll for the period of Nov. 3 to Dec. 31, 1864.10,11 
  The Saltville Artillery was organized on April 30th, 1864 and was composed of detailed and exempted men at or near Saltville, Virginia. The company was raised for local defense however in Oct. 1864 it was ordered to report at Camp Lee [Richmond] to await further orders. On the Nov. 4th the company reported for duty as part of the Intermediate Line of the Richmond Artillery Defenses.12 
  I have not determined what role the Saltville Artillery in general, or John Ernest in particular, played in either the first (2 Oct. 1864) or second Battle (20-21 Dec. 1864) of Saltville. However an online reference to the second battle notes that the only viable Confederate force opposing the Federals under Gen. Stoneman in Dec. 1864 at Saltville "was Barr's Battery, Kains Tennessee Artillerists, Kings Battery (newly returned from the Richmond/Petersburg line, where they served for several months) and various Home Guards and Reserves. Heavily outnumbered the Rebel forces were pushed aside and Stoneman managed to damage the salt works, but not seriously."13 
  After the war ended John retired to Brook Hall and devoted his time to the farm. William Byars died in February, 1866. His will left Brook Hall and much of the surrounding land to Amanda.14 
Death3 Mar 1868 John died at Brook Hall on 3 Mar 1868. He was crushed by a log while supervising its removal on the property.3,15,5 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 
  John's pastor described him as a liberal and kind-hearted man.5 

Related Links and Images:

Click on the camera icon below the small photo of John Henry at the top of this page to see the full portrait. This is the picture from which the sketch of John Henry on p. 777 of Lewis Preston Summers' History of Southwest Virginia was made.
John and Amanda lived at Brook Hall, the home and farm Amanda inherited from her father
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Amanda Jane Byars b. 25 Mar 1823, d. 6 Jul 1904
Children
Last Edited22 Jun 2013

Citations

  1. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 19. John Henry Ernest and Amanda Byars marr 1 Nov. 1849 by Levi R. Morrison.
  2. [S1282] Bob Cooke, "Col. John Henry Earnest," e-mail to Diana Powell, May 28, 2005.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 180. J. H. Ernest, 7 May 1825 - 3 March 1868.
  4. [S1282] Bob Cooke, "Col. John Henry Earnest," e-mail to Diana Powell, May 28, 2005. Bob provided John's date and place of birth.
  5. [S727] Lewis Preston Summers, History of Southwest Virginia and Washington Co., p. 777.
  6. [S367] William Byars household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th district, p. 136 (stamped), dwelling 987, family 987, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2005, image 137 of 289. Enumeration includes: William Byars, 73, farmer, owns real estate valued at $86,000; James M., 23, farmer; John H. Earnest, 25, lawyer; Amanda J. Earnest, 26; all b. VA.
  7. [S234] John H. Earnest household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 461 (added script), dwelling 699, family 678, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 99 of 361. John H. Earnest, 34, lawyer, owns land: $1,100; pers. prop: $3,200; Amanda, 35; Mary 9; William 7; James 5; Sarah 2; all b. VA.
  8. [S1282] Bob Cooke, "The First Brook Hall," e-mail to Diana Powell, 10 Apr 2011.
  9. [S2641] "Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, 1861-65," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : viewed Apr 2011); John H. Ernest, Abingdon VA, carded entry.
  10. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : viewed Apr 2011); J.H. Ernest, Sergeant, Capt. King's Co. (Saltville Artillery), Virginia Light Artillery.
  11. [S16] Although the compiled service record only identifies this individual as "J.H. Ernest", no other candidate person was identified in Virginia on the 1860 census.
  12. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : viewed Apr 2011); Unit Information (carded entry), Capt. King's Co. (Saltville Artillery), Virginia Light Artillery.
  13. [S2642] "Levis-Barr Company of Virginia Light Artillery", Grayson Blue/Gray Society of Southwest Virginia (http://barrsbattery.tripod.com/id2.html : viewed Apr 2011). The narrative on this portion of the website was cited to: Jeffrey Weaver, The Nottoway Artillery and Barr's Battery of the VA Regimental Series.
  14. [S852] William Byars will (1866), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 16: 406. The will was written 6 May 1858 with a codicil added March 31, 1862. It was recorded 26 March 1866.
  15. [S1282] Bob Cooke, "Col. John Henry Earnest," e-mail to Diana Powell, May 28, 2005. Bob provided John's date and place of death.
  16. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 733.
  17. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 100. Transcription reads: William B. Earnest, 25y, sgl, b. & resid Washington Co., VA, farmer, son of John H. and Amanda J. Earnest and Fannie S. Mason, 21y, sgl, b. Pulaski Co., VA, resid WCV, d/o W.B. & Mary J. Mason; marr 23 Oct. 1878.
  18. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p, 44. Transcription reads: Wm Byars Ernest, b. 29 Apr 1853 to John H. and Amanda Jane Ernest.
  19. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 180. James Henry Ernest, s/o J. H. & Amanda J. Ernest, 9 Feb. 1855 - 2 March 1926.
  20. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 180. Lucy L. Ernest, d/o J.H. & A. J. Ernest, 11 Oct. 1862 - 29 Apr 1887.