John Wayles Jefferson
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John Wayles Jefferson (May 8, 1835 - July 12, 1892) was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. The eldest son of Eston Hemings (1808-1856) and Julia Ann Isaacs Hemings(1814-1889), he was the grandson of Sarah (Sally) Hemings, a slave of President Thomas Jefferson.
His father Eston had been born a slave at Monticello in 1808, the youngest of Sally Hemings’ six children. Eston was manumitted in 1829 at the age of 21, as provided for in President Jefferson’s will. The following year, Eston purchased property in Charlottesville, on which he and his brother Madison built a house. Their mother Sally lived there with her sons until her death in 1835. Young John Jefferson's grandmother Sally died at Charlottesville the year he was born.
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[edit] Military Service
John W. Jefferson entered the United States Army on August 26, 1861, at Madison, Wisconsin, eventually taking command of the Wisconsin 8th Infantry during the American Civil War. On September 28, 1861 he was promoted to Major; to Lieutenant Colonel on April 23, 1863; and to Colonel on June 16, 1864. He fought in significant battles of the war and was wounded at Vicksburg and during the Siege of Corinth. He was mustered out of service on October 11, 1864 at Madison, Wisconsin.
He later moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he became a prominent businessman. Prior to entering military service, he and his younger brother Beverly had successfully managed the American House hotel in Madison, Wisconsin.
He died on June 12, 1892 and was interred in Madison, Wisconsin, in a family plot at Forest Hill Cemetery. He never married.
[edit] References
- A Sprig of Jefferson Was Eston Hemings, Scioto Gazette, Chillicothe, Ohio, August 1, 1902
Subheading: "The Gazette's Delver Into the Past Brings up a Romantic Story...Was Natural Son of the Sage of Monticello; Had the Traits of Good Training.
[edit] Note
Scioto Gazette reporter speaking of John Wayles Jefferson in 1902:
"...and I saw and talked with one of the sons, during the Civil War, who was then wearing the silver leaves of a lieutenant colonel, and in command of a fine regiment of white men from a north-western state. He begged me not to tell the fact that he had colored blood in his veins, which he said was not suspected by any of his command; and of course I did not."
[edit] External links
- Thomas Jefferson's Madison Descendants? Wisconsin Historical Society
- PBS Frontline
