Wharton, Gabriel Colvin, 1824-1906

Gabriel Colvin Wharton, was born July 23, 1824, in Culpeper, Virginia. He enrolled at VMI on September 1, 1845; graduated on July 5, 1847, with a standing of 2nd in a class of 12 (distinguished graduate). He married Anne Rebecca (Nannie) Radford in 1863, and they had one son, William. Prior to the Civil War he was a Civil Engineer in west (Arizona and elsewhere). During the War he was a Colonel in the 51st Virginia Infantry Regiment; and served in Floyd's western Virginia campaign. He was appointed Brigadier General Sept. 1863 and commanded "Wharton's Brigade" which fought mostly in the forgotten western front of Virginia, defending the vital railroads and materials which supplied the troops. . He fought at New Market, Cold Harbor, and in Valley campaigns. After the War he went back to his profession as a Civil Engineer in southwestern Virginia and was instrumental in building railroads in New River Valley. He became a businessman in the New River area with interest in land and railroads. He served in the Virginia Legislature and while there aided in obtaining Morrill Land-Grant Act script to establish Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He served on the V.P.I. board and as Rector. Wharton died May 11, 1906 at Radford, Virginia, where he is buried.