Chiswell Langhorne
Encyclopedia
Colonel Chiswell Dabney Langhorne (4 November 1843 – 14 February 1919) was an American
railroad millionaire. He was the father of Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
and the maternal grandfather of both Joyce Grenfell
and Michael Langhorne Astor.
Langhorne was born in Lynchburg, Virginia
. His family were wealthy slave-owners before the American Civil War
but lived in greatly reduced circumstances after the war. Langhorne, however, made a new fortune, working first in the tobacco auctioneering business and then in railroads.
As a youth he entered the Confederate Army and served with distinction during the war. Soon after the Civil War
, he went to Danville, Virginia
. The sale of loose-leaf tobacco by auction on a warehouse floor originated in Danville just before the Civil War. The practice, which was called the "Danville System", was quickly and widely adopted. It is said that Langhorne set the pattern of the tobacco auctioneer's chant, which was also quickly adopted and followed everywhere.
He moved his family to Richmond
in 1885, where he landed a construction contract with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
through the influence of his wartime commanding officer. This was the start of his railroad fortune.
By 1892, he had installed his family at Mirador, a colonnaded house in Albemarle County, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains
.
He died in Richmond following an illness of several weeks.
in 1864.
The couple had 11 children:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad millionaire. He was the father of Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
Nancy Witcher Astor, Viscountess Astor, CH, was the first woman to sit as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons.Constance Markievicz was the first woman elected to the House of Commons in December 1918 after running for the Sinn Féin party in 1918 General Election, but in line...
and the maternal grandfather of both Joyce Grenfell
Joyce Grenfell
Joyce Irene Grenfell, OBE was an English actress, comedienne, diseuse and singer-songwriter.-Early life:...
and Michael Langhorne Astor.
Langhorne was born in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. His family were wealthy slave-owners before the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
but lived in greatly reduced circumstances after the war. Langhorne, however, made a new fortune, working first in the tobacco auctioneering business and then in railroads.
As a youth he entered the Confederate Army and served with distinction during the war. Soon after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he went to Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
. The sale of loose-leaf tobacco by auction on a warehouse floor originated in Danville just before the Civil War. The practice, which was called the "Danville System", was quickly and widely adopted. It is said that Langhorne set the pattern of the tobacco auctioneer's chant, which was also quickly adopted and followed everywhere.
He moved his family to Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
in 1885, where he landed a construction contract with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
through the influence of his wartime commanding officer. This was the start of his railroad fortune.
By 1892, he had installed his family at Mirador, a colonnaded house in Albemarle County, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
.
He died in Richmond following an illness of several weeks.
Issue
He married Nancy "Nanaire" Witcher Keene (1848–1903), in DanvilleDanville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
in 1864.
The couple had 11 children:
- Lizzie (1867–1914)
- Keene (1869–1916)
- Irene (1873–1956); married to Charles Dana GibsonCharles Dana GibsonCharles Dana Gibson was an American graphic artist, best known for his creation of the Gibson Girl, an iconic representation of the beautiful and independent American woman at the turn of the 20th century....
, creater of the Gibson GirlGibson GirlThe Gibson Girl was the personification of a feminine ideal as portrayed in the satirical pen-and-ink-illustrated stories created by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson during a 20-year period spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the United States.Some people argue that the... - Harry (1874–1907)
- NancyNancy Astor, Viscountess AstorNancy Witcher Astor, Viscountess Astor, CH, was the first woman to sit as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons.Constance Markievicz was the first woman elected to the House of Commons in December 1918 after running for the Sinn Féin party in 1918 General Election, but in line...
(1879–1964); married to Waldorf Astor - Phyllis (1880–1937); married to Robert Brand, 1st Baron Brand
- William "Buck" (1886–1938)
- Nora (1889–1955)
- 3 children who died in infancy sometime after 1867