William Fields Jr.1

b. 16 October 1843, d. July 1913
William Fields Jr. (cropped)
photo courtesy Patricia Craig Fields
FatherWilliam Fields1 b. 21 Apr 1811, d. 22 Nov 1862
MotherEleanor Matilda Davidson1 b. 26 Jan 1826, d. 2 Feb 1889
Birth16 Oct 1843 William Fields Jr. was born on 16 Oct 1843 in Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia.1 
Education  Prior to the Civil War, William studied at Emory and Henry College.2 
MilitaryMay 1861  In May 1861 William enlisted in Co. I of the 48th Virginia Regiment. He fought at the Second Battle of Manassas as well as in other engagements. William was wounded twice, the first injury resulting in the amputation of a finger. At the Battle of the Crater on April 2, 1865 a ball struck him in the left thigh. The wound developed gangrene and William was hospitalized for some time. By late July he had recovered enough to walk home, doing so on crutches.2  
Marriageafter 1865 He married Margaret Elizabeth Nash after 1865.1 
  William and Margaret resided on her parents farm in the Castlewood area of Russell County, Virginia. Aaron Nash, Margaret's father, owned land worth over $25,000 in 1870. His personal property was valued at almost $13,000. William worked as a farm hand for his father-in-law in 1870 but by 1880 he was overseeing the farm. Three children were enumerated with William and Margaret in 1880: Charles (11), William (9) and Kate (5). Several servants and laborers were part of the household as well.3,4 
Widowed  Margaret appears to have died within a year or two of the census enumeration. 
Marriage26 Jun 1884 He married second Imogene Wyche Otey on 26 Jun 1884.1 
  William and Imogene also lived in the Castlewood area of Russell County. They did not have children of their own, however they provided a home for William's daughter and son-in-law following their marriage. Later, William's brother Charles, who had spent most of his adult life in Sutter Co., California, returned to Virginia and lived with William and Imogene.5,6 
DeathJul 1913 William died in Jul 1913 in Castlewood, Russell County, Virginia, at age 69.1 
Burial He was buried in Russell County.1 
  William was a very successful stock man. He built a beautiful home near Castlewoods where he was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a Royal Arch Mason. William was remembered by his family and friends as being genial and hospitable - a true Old Virginia gentleman.2 
Last Edited20 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S2439] Patricia Craig Johnson, "William Fields-Eleanor Matilda Davidson" family group sheet, (e-mail address).
  2. [S2622] Confederate Veteran - Death notice of William Fields - 1914, undated clipping from an unidentified newspaper (from the files of Dennis Fields; shared by Patricia Johnson).
  3. [S2543] Aaron H. Nash household, 1870 U.S. cens, Russell Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Castlewood District, p. 319 (stamped), dwelling 185, family 185, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2010. Household includes: Aaron H. Nash, 63, farmer, owns land worth $25,084, pers prop of $12,750; Catherine, wife, 57; William, 31, son; William Fields, 26, farm hand; Margaret Fields, 22; Charles Fields, 1; also 2 servants and 5 farm hands.
  4. [S2296] Aaron H. Nash household, 1880 U.S. cens., Russell Co., Virginia, pop sched., Castlewood District, ED 65, page 6, dwelling 44|46, family Nov. 2010. Household includes: Aaron H. Nash, 73, farmer; Katie, wife, 66; William, 44, son, cannot read or write; William Fields, 36, son-in-law, overseerer farm; Bettie Fields, 32, dau; Charlie V. Fields, 11, nephew [sic]; William A. Fields, 9, nephew [sic]; Kate E. Fields, 5, niece [sic]; all b. VA; also 2 servants and several laborers, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  5. [S1776] William Fields household, 1900 U.S. cens., Russell Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Castlewood District, ED 51, sheet 13B, dwelling 232|235, family Nov. 2010. Household includes: Wm Fields, 56, b. Oct. 1843, marr 16 yrs, b. VA, farmer; Imogrn [sic], wife, 48, b. Dec. 1851, marr 16 yrs, no children, b. AL; Judy Anderson, servant, 22, black, b. May 1878 VA; cont next page: Gase Evans, servant, 17, black, b. May 1883 VA; Clarance Williams, servant, 18, black, b. May 1882 VA; Evert A. Leonard, son-in-law, 25, b. Aug. 1874 VA, marr #1; Eleanor, dau, 25, b. Aug 1874, marr #1, b. VA, mother of 1 child, is living; Lucile, granddaughter, 1/12, b. Apr 1900 VA, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  6. [S2542] William Fields household, 1910 U.S. cens., Russell Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Castlewood District, ED 53, sheet 16A (p. 46 stamped), dwelling 238|244, family Nov. 2010. Household includes: William Fields, 66, marr #2, marr 25 yrs, b. VA/VA/VA, farmer; Enogene, wife, 59, marr #1, marr 25 yrs, b. AL; C.B., brother, 68, wid, marr 13 yrs, b. VA, own income; Thelma W. Oten, niece, 11, b. AL; Fields Dickenson, laborer, 25, black, b. VA, viewed online at Ancestry.com.