(October 9, 1829 — December 14, 1896) Richard Small Ayer was a businessman and politician. Ayer was born in Montville, Maine in 1829 and moved to Virginia in 1865. Before the Civil War, he worked in agriculture and the mercantile industry. During the war, he joined the Union Army and served as a private, first lieutenant, and captain. After moving to Virginia in 1865, Ayer was a member of the state constitutional convention in 1867 to 1868. He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives and served from January 31, 1870 to March 3, 1871. After serving in Congress, he resumed work in agriculture, and served in the State House of Representatives. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/A000351]

(December 5, 1821 — June 4, 1883) George William Booker was an American politician and lawyer. Booker was born in Stuart, Virginia in 1821. After receiving an education, he taught school and studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. Booker held many legal offices including justice of peace of Henry County, and presiding justice of the county court. He also served in the State House of Delegates from 1865 to 1867, and 1871 to 1873. Booker was elected as a Conservative to the United States House of Representatives and served from January 26, 1870 to March 3, 1871. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B000627]

(January 10, 1809 — August 29, 1879) Reese Tate Bowen was a businessman and politician. Bowen was born in Tazewell, Virginia in 1809. He worked in agriculture before starting his political career. Bowen served in the State House of Delegates (1863-1865), and acted as magistrate of Tazewell County for many years leading up to the Civil War. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1875. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B000685]

(October 8, 1823 — October 2, 1891) Elliott Muse Braxton was an American politician and lawyer. Braxton was born in Mathews, Virginia in 1823. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849. Braxton was a member of the State Senate from 1852 to 1856, before moving to Fredericksburg, Georgia and practicing law. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army as a captain and major. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1873. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B000777]

(March 11, 1820 — September 27, 1901) John Critcher was a politician, lawyer, and judge. Critcher was born in Oak Grove, Virginia in 1820. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1839, and spent the next three years furthering his studies in France. He was admitted to the bar in 1842 and practiced law in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Critcher served as a member of the State Senate in 1861 and 1874 to 1877. He also served in the State secession convention in 1861. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army and later served as judge of the eighth judicial circuit of Virginia. Critcher was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1873. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000911]

(January 17, 1833 — September 25, 1889) Alexander Mathews Davis was an American politician and lawyer. Davis was born in Old Mount Airy, Virginia in 1833. He graduated from Emory and Henry College, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. During the Civil War, Davis served in the Confederate Army as a captain, major, and lieutenant colonel. After the war, he served in the State Senate from 1869 to 1871, before presenting his credentials as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives. He served from March 4, 1873 until March 5, 1874, when he was succeeded by Christopher Thomas, who successfully contested his election. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/D000091]

(June 6, 1822 — July 2, 1898) Richard Thomas Walker Duke was an American politician and lawyer. Duke was born in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1822. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1844, after which he graduated from the law department of the University of Virginia. Duke was elected as the Commonwealth attorney for the county of Albemarle in 1858, and served in that office until 1869. He was elected as a Conservative to the United States House of Representatives to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Robert Ridgeway. He served in the House from November 8, 1870 to March 3, 1873. After serving in Congress, Duke returned to Virginia and served in the State House of Delegates from 1879 to 1880. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/D000521]

(February 18, 1812 — March 30, 1879) James King Gibson was a businessman, banker, and politician. Gibson was born in Abingdon, Virginia in 1812. He worked in the mercantile industry until being elected deputy sheriff of Washington County in 1834. Later, Gibson served as postmaster of Abingdon. He was elected as a Conservative to the United States House of Representatives and served from January 28, 1870 to March 3, 1871. After serving in Congress, he worked in agriculture and banking until his death in 1879. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/G000162]

(May 8, 1823 — October 14, 1899) John Thomas Harris was an American politician and lawyer. Harris was born in Browns Gap, Virginia in 1823. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1845. Harris was the Commonwealth attorney for Rockingham County, Virginia, for seven years from 1852 to 1859. He was first elected as an Independent Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1859 to March 3, 1861. After Virginia seceded from the Union, Harris served in the State House of Delegates from 1863 to 1865, and later served as a judge of the twelfth judicial circuit from 1866 to 1869. He was elected again to the United States House of Representatives, this time as a Democrat, and served from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1881. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/H000247]

(September 22, 1822 — October 11, 1908) Eppa Hunton was a teacher, lawyer, and politician. Hunton was born in Fauquier County, Virginia in 1822. After attending New Baltimore Academy, he taught school for three years while studying law. He was admitted to the bar in 1843 and practiced law in Brentsville, Virginia. Hunton advocated for secession while serving in the Virginia convention in 1861. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as a colonel and brigadier general. Hunton was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1881. He was then elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of John Barbour. He served in the Senate from May 28, 1892 until March 3, 1895. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/H000999]

(September 9, 1818 — February 27, 1889) John Warfield Johnston was a lawyer, judge, and politician. Johnston was born in Panicello, Virginia in 1818. He attended the South Carolina College at Columbia, and studied law at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. He was admitted to the bar in 1839 and practiced law in Tazewell, Virginia. Johnston served as the Commonwealth attorney for Tazewell County from 1844 to 1846, and then served in the State Senate from 1846 to 1848. During the Civil War, he was the Confederate States Receiver, and later was a judge of the circuit court of Virginia from 1866 to 1870. Johnston was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served during the Forty-First, and the six succeeding Congresses from March 15, 1871 to March 3, 1883. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/J000191]

(March 1, 1818 — September 2, 1895) John Francis Lewis was a businessman and politician. Lewis was born in Lynnwood, Virginia in 1818. He worked in agriculture until the start of his political career. Lewis served in the State secession convention in 1861, but refused to sign the ordinance of secession. He was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served during the Forty-First, Forty-Second, and Forty-Third Congresses from January 26, 1870 to March 3, 1875. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/L000285]

(October 7, 1810 — June 28, 1895) Lewis McKenzie was a businessman and politician. McKenzie was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1810. He worked in shipping and in the mercantile business, as well as served on the city council (1855-1859, 1863-1866, 1868-1870), and as mayor of Alexandria (1861-1863). He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Unionist. He filled the vacancy occasioned by the unseating of Charles Upton, and served from February 16, 1863 to March 3, 1863. After the Civil War, and upon the readmission of Virginia to the Union, McKenzie was again elected as a Conservative to the United States House and served from January 31, 1870 to March 3, 1871. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/M000507]

(December 8, 1827 — August 14, 1889) William Milnes, Jr. Was a miner, shipper, businessman, and politician. Milnes was born in Yorkshire, England and immigrated to the United States in 1829. He grew up learning the machinist’s trade, and later worked in mining and shipping coal. He moved to Virginia in 1865, and worked in the iron industry while serving in the State House of Delegates. Milnes was elected as a Conservative to the United States House of Representatives and served from January 27, 1870 to March 3, 1871. After serving in Congress, Milnes resumed his work in the iron business until his death in 1889. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/M000784]

(July 13, 1837 — August 13, 1894) James Henry Platt, Jr. was a medical doctor, businessman, and politician. Platt was born in St. John’s, Canada in 1837 and moved to Virginia in 1865. He studied medicine and graduated from the University of Vermont at Burlington in 1859. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army and attained the ranks of captain and lieutenant colonel. After moving to Virginia in 1865, he served as a member of the State constitutional convention in 1867, and as a member of the city council in 1867 and 1868. Platt was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives and served from January 26, 1870 to March 3, 1875. After serving in Congress, he worked in various industries, including insurance, paper manufacturing, and mining. Platt drowned while at Green Lake, Colorado in 1894. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/P000380]

(June 21, 1833 — July 9, 1897) Charles Howell Porter was an American politician and lawyer. Porter was born in Cairo, New York and moved to Virginia in 1867. He graduated from the University at Albany and was admitted to the bar in 1854. During the Civil War, Porter served in the Union Army and served as a member of the New York Mounted Rifles. After the war, he settled in Virginia, where he acted as city attorney, Commonwealth attorney, and member of the constitutional convention in 1867 and 1868. Porter was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives and served from January 26, 1870 to March 3, 1873. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/P000438]

(April 21, 1823 — October 16, 1870) Robert Ridgway was an American politician and lawyer. Ridgway was born in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1823. He graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. Ridgway worked as editor to various publications prior to the Civil War. He was elected as a Conservative to the United States House of Representatives and served from January 27, 1870 until his death on October 16, 1870. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/R000248]

(May 18, 1837 — November 18, 1903) James Beverley Sener was an editor, lawyer, and politician. Sener was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1837. He graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, studied law and Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) and was admitted to the bar in 1860. During his political career, he served as sheriff of Fredericksburg, sergeant of the city, and army correspondent of the Southern Associated Press with the army of Robert E. Lee. After the war, he acted as editor of the Fredericksburg Ledger, a publication in Virginia. Sener was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1875. After serving in Congress, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Wyoming Territory. He served in that capacity from 1878 to 1882. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000240]

(September 23, 1847 — January 6, 1892) John Ambler Smith was an American lawyer and politician. Smith was born in Dinwiddle County, Virginia in 1847, He graduated from Richmond College and was admitted to the bar in 1867. Smith served in various public offices including commissioner in chancery of the courts of Richmond, Commonwealth attorney, and State Senator. He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1875. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000568]

(July 26, 1840 — April 27, 1922) William Henry Harrison Stowell was a businessman, journalist, and politician. Stowell was born in Windsor, Vermont in 1840 and moved to Virginia in 1865. He graduated from Boston Latin School in 1860 and worked in the mercantile business. Stowell was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1877. After serving in Congress, he worked in various businesses including paper and steel manufacturing, and banking. He later acted as a correspondent in France for many newspapers. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000985]

(August 14, 1824 — September 5, 1888) William Terry was a teacher, politician, and lawyer. Terry was born in Amherst County, Virginia in 1824. He graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1848, after which he taught school and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1851 and practiced law, as well as worked in the newspaper industry. During the Civil War, Terry enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as a lieutenant, and later as a major and brigadier general. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1873. Terry died of drowning while trying to ford Reed Creek in Virginia. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/T000136]

(March 24, 1818 — February 11, 1879) Christopher Yancy Thomas was an American politician and lawyer. Thomas was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1818. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1844. Thomas served as a member of the State Senate from 1860 to 1864, and as a member of the State constitutional convention in 1868. He successfully contested the election of Alexander Davis in the United States House of Representatives and served from March 5, 1874 to March 3, 1875. After serving in Congress, Thomas resumed practicing law in Virginia until his death in 1879. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/T000161]

(December 27, 1825 — July 1, 1901) Thomas Whitehead was a businessman, politician, and lawyer. Whitehead was born in Lovingston, Virginia in 1825. He had limited schooling and worked in the mercantile business while studying law. Whitehead was admitted to the bar in 1849 and practiced law in Amherst, Virginia until the outbreak of the Civil War. During the war, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as a captain. Whitehead was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1875. After serving in Congress, he resumed practicing law while also working as editor of Virginian publications. In 1888, Whitehead was elected commissioner of agriculture for the State of Virginia and served until his death in 1901. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/W000401]