John Madison Follin

John Madison Follin M V T K Y Photo: Provided by Mrs. Metzinger.[1438] A photograph of him at age 86 appeared in a newspaper.[1439] “Tell mr Lynn that i have a photo of a Follin who served in the Blackhorse it is taken with a few other veterans in the late 20’s…”[1440] [NOTE:2006-06-28 eml to him asking to see photo; he replied saying he wld scan on 2006-07-03. haven’t rec’d as of 2006-07-22.] [NOTE:prob let this go.] Born: 1844.[1441] 29 November 1844,[1442] at Warrenton. [1443] Married: Later in life, not immediately after the war.[1444] On 25 February 1875,[1445] he wed Georgianna (Dorsey) (2 July 1849–25 February 1926) in Washington, D. C. According to these dates, he was age 31 and she age 26 when they wed. Her parents were Harriet (Severn)—“just like the river”[1446]—and Ferdinand Dorsey. Georgianna was born in Howard County, Maryland.[1447] She had a slender face, dark eyes, and dark hair that she wore in curls piled high above her brow and dangling behind her neck.[1448] The couple celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary according to the following announcement: “1875 1925/ Mr. And Mrs. John Madison Follin/ At Home/ Monday, the twenty-third of February/ from four until seven o’clock/ 3535 Thirteenth Street”.[1449] Their church announced more somber news one year later: “In Memoriam/ Mrs. John M. Follin, 3535 13th St., N. W. February 25, 1926”.[1450] Georgiana died in Washington, D. C., and is buried in the Confederate Section at Arlington National Cemetery.[1451] Died: 1932, in Washington, D.C.[1452] He died on 8 December 1930 at Washington, D. C.[1453] “He was laid to rest in the Confederate section [“Sec. 16 grave 142-A”[1454]] of Arlington Cemetery, in a manner befitting his honorable service as a wearer of the gray.”[1455] Obituary: “He was a member of the District Association of Oldest Inhabitants, and at one time conducted a wholesale confectionery business here.” [1456] See Obituary Chapter. Children: Six: [1457] Dorsey (29 December 1979– ) [wed Bertha Fisk or Fiske. He passed on at least a decade before his twin sister Edna. [1458]] Edna (29 December 1979–1969). [Aunt Edna wed Lewis Steeley. [1459]] Margaret (21 August 1881–1981). [Aunt Margie wed George Bayer. “She lived to be a hundred.” [1460]] Cornelia (4 November 1885–1968). [Wed Benjamin R. Hughs. [1461]] Katherine (14 June 1889–1985). [She did not marry. She was a teacher. [1462]] James (19 May 1892–1987).[1463] [Uncle Jim wed Maude Mills. [1464]] In addition to the above-listed surviving children, John and Georgianna had several children who died infants, including at least one other set of twins.[1465] One source states that his son was named John, but this is incorrect.[1466] Parents and Siblings: Eliza Ann [Bise [1467]] and Madison Jefferson Follin. She was born in Fauquier County. He was from Fairfax County. They wed in Fauquier.[1468] John’s siblings were: Elizabeth Sandford, Jane Eliza, James Filmore, Catherine Clay, Charles Robert, William Thomas, Mary Ann, Emma Fannie, Rebecca [Edmondson[1469]].[1470] John was the oldest son.[1471] The 1860 Census “names family members and ages.”[1472] Other Family: John’s maternal grandparents were Fanny (Lambkin) and Aaron Bise.[1473] John’s paternal grandmother was Catherine (Sandford), daughter of Rebecca (Brewer) and Daniel Sandford.[1474] John’s paternal grandfather served in the Revolutionary War. This grandfather was also from Fairfax County, and had 24 children.[1475] After Catherine’s death, he married second Mary (Barker).[1476] This paternal grandfather was also John Follin (1761–1841). He entered the Navy at age 17, was captured “on the high seas” by the British and held as a prisoner of war for three yearsuntil released near the end of that war.[1477] John’s father had a general store in the center of Warrenton, near the courthouse, possibly on Winchester Street.[1478] “Madison J. Follin had a general store where Anderson and Allison now are and dwelt overhead,” “now” being 1840–1919.[1479] John’s brother James was a circuit rider in Highland County and then a minister in Texas. [1480] He was a “Minister [at] Methodist Episcopal Church, South.”[1481] John’s sister Mary married Gabriel Edmondson, C. S. A., whose mother lived in Washington. “Uncle Gabe joined the Confederacy; one of his brothers went with the Union.” John’s brother-in-law is buried in the Confederate Section at Arlington. [1482] John’s wife’s family, before the war, owned a plantation in Carroll County, Maryland, which they operated there with the use of slaves. After the war, the family worked in Washington, D. C., where Georgianna and John met.[1483] John and Georgianna’s oldest son, Dorsey, lived in Boston for “most of his life.” The youngest son, called Jim, “won the first scholarship to Harvard University from Central High School in D. C.” Jim met Miss Mills at the University of Michigan; he served in World War I with a commission as an engineer. Several of cavalryman John’s daughters were teachers. Researchers can find more about this family at reference.[1484] Stories, Letters & Biographies: “I will return to Washington next tuesday, so I think you had better send your answer there.”[1485] See Letters Chapter. [NOTE:call back about this letter.] [NOTE:missing page/ pages? – available?] “It is said of Madison J. Follin that after the Federal Troops left Warrenton’s vicinity on one occasion during the war,…”[1486] See Stories Chapter. “I am enclosing copy of Black Horse Co.,…”[1487] See Letters Chapter. This letter, while ordinary in content, refers to cavalryman John Edward Armstrong; both of Ed and John were merchants. John “took his first airplane ride” in 1930. See Stories Chapter.[1488] CSR: 5’9”, fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes; enlisted 1 December 1862; Courier; absent on horse detail March to April 1864; wounded right leg 28 May 1864 Haw’s Shop; Jackson Hospital [Richmond] 29 May 1864; paroled 28 April 1865 Winchester.[1489] Additional Information: Wounded at Haw’s Shop, May 28, 1864. [1490] His rank and regiment were: Pvt., 4th VA Cav.[1491] Listed as “John M. Folein;”[1492] this spelling is incorrect. John grew up on a farm in Warrenton. After the war, he moved to Washington, D. C., to find work. His children benefitted from the better educational opportunities available in the city. His daughters attended teachers’ colleges.[1493] John was a merchant in Washington.[1494] He resided at 3535 13th St., N. W.[1495] Mrs. Metzinger remembers going as a small girl with her grandfather, John Madison Follin, to visit Arlington National Cemetery. “He was a big man [“to a little five-year-old” [1496]].” [1497] His church writes, “Brother Follin was our oldest trustee and had served longest. For many years he was our Recording Steward. His membership in our church antedated that of all but one or two now surviving. He served through the Civil War as a member of Stuart’s Cavalry, in a company raised around Warrenton, Va., and locally famous as The Black Horse Cavalry.”[1498]