services. For nearly seven years of this time he served with marked efficiency as superintendent of the public schools of Norfolk. In 1841 he married Miss Alexina Taylor, of Norfolk, Va.
Brigadier-General Elisha Franklin Paxton, who fell at Chancellorsville while leading the Stonewall brigade, was a native of Rockbridge county, Va., of Scotch-Irish and English descent. His grandfather, William Paxton, commanded a company from Rockbridge at the siege of Yorktown in 1781. His father, Elisha Paxton, served in the war of 1812. General Paxton was educated and graduated at Washington college, Va., and at Yale college, and in 1849, at the head of his class in the university of Virginia, was graduated in law. This profession he practiced with much success at Lexington until 1860, when failing eyesight compelled him to seek other occupation. He was engaged in farming near Lexington when the political campaign of 1860 was in progress, and his ardent temperament and strong convictions did not permit him to remain an indifferent spectator of the important events of that year. After the election he advocated the immediate secession of Virginia, and when that action was finally decided upon he sustained his words by deeds of self-sacrifice. He was first lieutenant of the Rockbridge rifles, the first of ten companies to go from that county, and left his home April 18, 1861, for Harper's Ferry. His company was attached to the First Virginia brigade, under Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, and at the first battle of Manassas, it formed a part of the Fourth Virginia regiment. In that memorable fight Lieutenant Paxton attracted attention by the conspicuous gallantry which ever afterward distinguished him as a soldier. Subsequently his company was assigned to the Twenty-seventh infantry, of which he was promoted major in October, 1861. In the following spring he became a member of General Jackson's staff, and later was appointed adjutant-general and chief of staff, Jackson's corps, army of Northern Virginia. On September 27, 1862, Jackson, having well tested his courage and ability, manifested great confidence in him by recommending the volunteer soldier for promotion to brigadier-general and assignment to command of the Stonewall brigade. The appointment was made by President Davis, and General Paxton took
