John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch
Encyclopedia
John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch (31 October 1824 – 13 September 1892) was a successful businessman, soldier and local politician.
, and later, in 1848, married Hester Jane Miller. Early in life he had worked as a carpenter and proprietor of a lumber yard in Martinsburg
, and, by 1852, expanded his business affairs with the purchase of the Beeson flour mill, and soon established a distillery on the north side of Tuscarora Creek.
attacked the federal armory at Harpers Ferry
, on October 16, 1859, Nadenbousch’s company was one of the first to respond.
, which was part of the Stonewall Brigade under General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and first engaged at the First Battle of Manassas
. Following the battle, Nadenbousch personally brought home the bodies of three of his men, and buried them in the Old Norbourne Cemetery, in Martinsburg. Later the commander of the regiment, Nadenbousch was twice wounded; first at the Second Manassas
, in August, 1862, and, less than a year later, at the Battle of Chancellorsville
, in May, 1863. On account of impaired health, and at his own request, Nadenbousch was relieved later that summer, from duty in the field, and assigned to the command of the post at Staunton, Virginia
. He later resigned on April 12, 1864, and began his return to civilian affairs before the war concluded.
), at Hannisville Mills. Nadenbousch also became active as a hotel proprietor in Martinsburg. In 1976, he purchased the lot, in Martinsburg, on which the United States Hotel had stood. There, he constructed the Grand Central Hotel, which opened in December 1877, operated it for about one year, and then rented it out to other proprietors. J. N. Woodward (formerly proprietor of the American Hotel in Staunton, Va.) operated the hotel for Nadenbousch for several years after 1878.
Nadenbousch also maintained an active life as Marshall (appointed in 1870) of the Martinsburg Fire Company, and as an officer with the Berkeley County Agricultural and Mechanical Association.
Politically, he served as mayor, councilman, and trustee of Martinsburg. He also maintained membership in the Tuscarora Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He died in 1892, and was buried in Old Norbourne Cemetery, in Martinsburg.
Early life
Nadenbousch was born in Berkeley County, Virginia (later West Virginia)Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
, and later, in 1848, married Hester Jane Miller. Early in life he had worked as a carpenter and proprietor of a lumber yard in Martinsburg
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
, and, by 1852, expanded his business affairs with the purchase of the Beeson flour mill, and soon established a distillery on the north side of Tuscarora Creek.
Militia Service and Harper’s Ferry
Nadenbousch was instrumental in forming the Berkeley Border Guards, a pre-Civil War local militia unit. When John BrownJohn Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
attacked the federal armory at Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
, on October 16, 1859, Nadenbousch’s company was one of the first to respond.
American Civil War
Following Virginia’s secession, Nadenbousch’s company was called into service and became Co. D, 2nd Virginia Infantry2nd Virginia Infantry
The 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in today’s West Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought as part of the Stonewall Brigade, mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
, which was part of the Stonewall Brigade under General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and first engaged at the First Battle of Manassas
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
. Following the battle, Nadenbousch personally brought home the bodies of three of his men, and buried them in the Old Norbourne Cemetery, in Martinsburg. Later the commander of the regiment, Nadenbousch was twice wounded; first at the Second Manassas
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
, in August, 1862, and, less than a year later, at the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
, in May, 1863. On account of impaired health, and at his own request, Nadenbousch was relieved later that summer, from duty in the field, and assigned to the command of the post at Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
. He later resigned on April 12, 1864, and began his return to civilian affairs before the war concluded.
Postwar Business, Civil Duty, and Politics
After the war, Nadenbousch continued work as a miller and distiller, in Berkeley County, with interests in the Nadenbousch & Roush, at Union Mills and, (as a subsidiary to the Hannis Distilling Company, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
), at Hannisville Mills. Nadenbousch also became active as a hotel proprietor in Martinsburg. In 1976, he purchased the lot, in Martinsburg, on which the United States Hotel had stood. There, he constructed the Grand Central Hotel, which opened in December 1877, operated it for about one year, and then rented it out to other proprietors. J. N. Woodward (formerly proprietor of the American Hotel in Staunton, Va.) operated the hotel for Nadenbousch for several years after 1878.
Nadenbousch also maintained an active life as Marshall (appointed in 1870) of the Martinsburg Fire Company, and as an officer with the Berkeley County Agricultural and Mechanical Association.
Politically, he served as mayor, councilman, and trustee of Martinsburg. He also maintained membership in the Tuscarora Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He died in 1892, and was buried in Old Norbourne Cemetery, in Martinsburg.