George Bobbitt, brother of James, enlisted on May 4, 1862 for the duration of the war. He served as a private in Company E, 45t

The Bobbitt Family In America

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George Bobbitt, brother of James, enlisted on May 4, 1862 for the duration of the war. He served as a private in Company E, 45th Virginia Infantry. Joseph enlisted on May 29, 1861 for one year and served in Company E, 45th Virginia Infantry. Joseph was taken a prisoner in June of 1864. Joseph became very ill in prison and was released on March 20, 1865 to return home.

George Bobbitt and James Hill Bobbitt, sons of Oregon Bobbitt, and nephews of Tilman Bobbitt, also joined with the Confederate armies. The sons and grandsons of John and Permelia Bobbitt all served the Confederate cause, but not the families of their daughters. Many of the daughters had married into families who were in sympathy with the Union cause.

James Tolliver Bobbitt, the eldest son of Tilman Bobbitt was so outraged by the outcome of the war between the states that he tended to continue the struggle on his own even after the war was over. He was so outspoken that he eventually had to flee for his life. James and his family first settled in Logan County, Kentucky.

No one knows for certain why Tilman Bobbitt decided to leave Greenbrier County. He had lost virtually all of his wealth and property as a result of the war. His father and mother were dead. His wife was dead and Tilman never remarried. In late 1865 or early 1866, Tilman, along with his sons, William, Joseph, and George, his daughters, Eliza, and Emily moved from Greenbrier County. He was joined in this move by George and James Hill Bobbitt, sons of Oregon Bobbitt. Also with the group was one female slave too young to be free. Other families of Greenbrier County are said to have joined the caravan which headed west.

We believe that the group stopped in Logan County, Kentucky where they were joined by James Tolliver and Catherine Bobbitt. From Kentucky the group next stopped in Springfield, Illinois. Along the way and in Springfield, the young men of the croup worked as blacksmiths, which provided the necessities of life.

In Springfield, the Bobbitt families took rooms and board in a house run by a widow named Eunice Marsh. Mrs. Marsh was born in New York in March 1809. In the family of Eunice Marsh was at least two daughters named Sophia and Annie Marsh. George and James, sons of Oregon Bobbitt, both were interested in Sophia, and either in or out of wedlock, each fathered a child by her. The first child was Eunice Bobbitt born in Illinois in March of 1867.

We surmise that in this boarding house there was the usual talk of where the best opportunities lay for earning a living. The talk must have been about the advancement of the Union Pacific railroad with depots in North Platte Nebraska, and the excellent farms of Pike County, Missouri.

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