A Birthday Dinner

Preserved By Archie L. Goad © 1992

Issue: July-August-September, 1992

Our thanks to Archie L. Goad of Hillsville, Virginia for supplying us with this and the article "Lieutenant Isaac Webb, CSA" in the July-August-September 1992 edition about Isaac Webb, who was his grandfather.

This photograph was taken at Isaac Webb's 79th birthday on Tuesday, November 20, 1912.

From an old newspaper clipping:

On Tuesday, November 26, 1912 at about 9 a.m. the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with some neighbors and soldiers who were invited to attend the 79th birthday began to gather at the home of Elder Isaac Webb, filling the lot in front of the house yard with vehicles and stalls with stock and horses and yard with the great crowd, which gathered to take part in the celebration of the 79th birthday of Elder Webb, who appeared to be able to take part in all the joy and cheer of the day.

At 12 noon it was announced that dinner which was prepared in the yard was ready. The Old "confeds" repaired to the place and found a long table nicely decorated, candies, cakes and the very best of the land and finest table ware to be found in all the land. When the soldiers were seated at the table with Mr. Webb at the head of same, the sons, their wives and daughters with their husbands and grand and great-grand children and others came and looked upon the Old Soldiers. While artist Mr. Walter J. Cruise, took a negative of the same for photos. Then after Thanks, the dinner, prepared was taken by the "Vets," after which five more tables were served, making it a day of our lives.

After dinner was served the Soldiers and crowd had a good time talking over events of the war. At about 3:30 they bade each other farewell and giving many thanks in a hearty hand shake with Mr. Isaac and Hon. Price Webb and others for their kindness shown which will long be remembered.

W.L. Utt, Cor.

The following is a list of Ex-Confederate Soldiers at the Celebration of Elder Isaac Webb's 79th birthday; their age and command to which they belonged during the war.

Isaac Webb Co I, 68 Reg. Va. Inft. age 79.

Isaiah Quesinberry Co I, 45 Reg. Va. Inft. age 75.

Alfred Gardner Co. D, 29, Reg. Va. Inft. age 72.

Isaac Branscome Co G. 54 Reg. Va. Inft. age 71.

Aaron Goad Co. G, 54 Reg. Va Inft. age 74.

Jonathan Worrell Co. G, 54 Reg. Va. Inft. age 65.

Franklin Branscome Co. G. 54 Reg. Va. Inft. age 75.

Peter Goad Co. D. 29 Reg. Va. Inft. age 79.

Jamee Sawyers Co. G. 5 Va. Reserve. age 67.

Wm. Hall Co E. 45 Reg. Va. Inft. age 75.

Wm. J. Fart-is Co. I. 45 Reg. Va. Inft. age 74.

Wm. L. Utt Co. C. 24 Reg. Va. Inft. age 69.

J. Henry Cruise, Wm. Lee Home Guard, age 95.

Richard Beasley Co. F. 29 Reg. Va. Inft. age 77.

Emanuel Iroler Co. C. 24 Reg. Va. Inft. age 81.

Booker McPeak Co. 24 Reg. Va. Inft. age 67.

Benj. Horton Co I. 68 Reg. Va. Inft. age 78.

Frank Wilcox Co. C. 45 Reg. Va. Inft. age 67.

Fred Milgrim Co. D. 29 Reg. Va. Inft. age 77.

Richard Thompsom Co. F. 5 Reg. Va. Inft. age 67.

Esau Franklin Co. D. 29 Reg. Va. age 71.

Isaac Colen Co I. 68 Reg. Va. Inft. age 70.

A. M. Beamor Co. D. 29 Reg. Va. Inft. age 75.

Harvey Daltom, Letcher Battery Artillery, age 67.

Wash Phibbs Co. E. 29 Reg. Va. Inft. age 80.

Pleasant Semones Co C. 24 Reg. Va. Inft. age 78.

Wm. F. Harris Co. F. 54 Reg. Va. Inft. age 72.

J.H. Brim Co. G. 54 Reg. Va. Inft. age 69.

(The names are not listed as they were seated in the photograph.)