Henry A. Edmondson

Henry Archer Edmondson (October 20, 1833 – December 28, 1918) was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the Virginia Senate and Virginia House of Delegates, representing his native Halifax County.[1]

Henry A. Edmondson
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 21st district
In office January 8, 1908 – January 12, 1916
Preceded by	Hiram O. Kerns
Succeeded by	James T. Lacy
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Halifax County
In office December 4, 1901 – January 10, 1906 Serving with James T. Lacy
Preceded by	Robert J. Tuck
Succeeded by	Marshall B. Booker
Personal details
Born	Henry Archer Edmondson (1833-10-20)October 20, 1833 Halifax, Virginia, U.S.
Died	December 28, 1918(1918-12-28) (aged 85) Houston, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Sallie Ann Poindexter
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Major
Unit	53rd Virginia Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

During the American Civil War, he was a major in the 53rd Virginia Infantry of the Confederate States Army. He was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg, where he was shot in the chin during Pickett's Charge. He always wore a goatee to hide the scars following this injury (source: family member who knew Major Edmondson personally).

After the war, Major Edmondson owned a tobacco warehouse in South Boston, Virginia and became a successful businessman and community leader. He worked for reconciliation and stated that the Civil War was "all a big mistake", according to those who knew him in his later years (source: same family member cited above).

Major Edmondson also supported Isaac Edmundson's successful campaign for state office. Isaac Edmundson had been Major Edmondson's enslaved "body servant" during the Civil War, and worked as a barber in Halifax, Virginia after the war. He was one of the first Black representatives to serve in the Virginia legislature (source: individuals who presently reside in Henry Archer Edmondson's former family home in Halifax, VA).

Major Edmondson and his wife Sally Ann Poindexter were the parents of twelve children, and have many living descendants. They and many of their children are buried in St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Halifax, Virginia.