206
\'IRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY
Recollections of the War," written from a
note-book actually kept while at the front,
was very popular. He was United States
consul-general at Mexico, 1879-85. He was
twice married, first to Anne Doyne Wolfe,
and secondly to Mary Elliott Hunter. By
his first marriage he had one daughter,
Emily, who became the wife of John Bris-
ben Walker (q. v.), and by his second mar-
riage, he had two sons. He was the author
of "The Blackwater Chronicle" (1853), ^^'^
"Virginia Illustrated" (1857). Gen. Stro-
ther died in Charlestown, Jefferson county.
West Virginia, March 8, 1888.
Blow, Henry T., was born in Southamp- ton county, Virginia, July 15, 1817. At the age of thirteen he removed to Missouri, and was graduated from the St. Louis Univer- sit}-. He engaged in the wholesale drug business, and as a lead miner, with financial success. He was an active Abolitionist, and after serving some years in the state senate of Missouri he was appointed, in 1861, by President Lincoln minister-resident at Ven- ezuela. In 1862 he was elected a repre- sentative from Missouri to the thirty-eighth congress on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected to the thirty-ninth congress. In 1S69 he was appointed by President Grant, United States minister to Brazil, and after his return to the United States in 1871 he resided in Washington, D. C.; and in 1874 was appointed by President Grant a mem- ber of the commission governing the Dis- trict of Columbia. lie died September 11,
Harris, Thomas Mealey, born in Wood county, \'irginia, June 17, 1817; after pre- paratory studies, he pursued a course in medicine, and practiced his profession at
Harrisville and (ilenville. X'irginia: was ap-
pointed colonel of the Tenth W est Virginia
Infantry ; in May, 1862, was promoted briga-
dier-general ; March 29, 1865, sent out the
detachment that engaged the last Confeder-
ate guns at Appomattox, and was mustered
out of the service of the government, April
30, 1866; after the cessation of hostilities he
devoted his attention to scientific farming,
in which he was successful ; he was a mem-
ber of the legislature of West Virginia in
1867, was adjutant-general of the state in
1869-70. and was pension agent at Wheel-
ing in 1871-77; he is the author of medical
essays and of a tract entitled "Calvinism
\'indicated."
Johnson, Waldo Porter, born near Bridge- port, Virginia, September 16, 1817, a nephew cl Gov. Joseph Johnson ; was educated in the schools of his native state, pursued a course of study in law, later removed to Missouri and was admitted to the bar, practicing his profession at Osceola ; he enlisted for ser- vice in the Mexican war in 1846, but was dis- charged the following year, having been elected a representative in the Missouri leg- islature ; he served in the capacity of prose- cuting attorney for St. Clair county, judge of the judicial district, and United States senator in the thirty-ninth congress, from July 4, 1861, to January 10, 1862, when he v.as expelled on account of having joined the Confederate army during the recess of con- gress; in the special session in July. 1861, he offered the resolution for a peace con- ference to be held in Louisville, Kentucky; he was wounded at Pea Ridge, March 8, 1862 ; was promoted lieutenant-colonel ; took part in the evacuation of Corinth, Missis- s;]ipi. May 30. 1862, after which he was