My Genealogy Hound

Maj. Riddick Pope, a prosperous agriculturist and citizen, was reared on a farm in Southampton County, Va., gaining his mental knowledge in the common schools of that county, remaining in these until nineteen years of age, after which he accepted the position of clerk in a dry goods store at Drewryville, Va. Two years later he went to Memphis, Tenn., and again engaged as clerk in his former trade, where he remained two years. In 1854 he formed a partnership with his brothers, Oswald and Madison, and started in the dry goods business, and about this time they bought 700 acres of land, in what is now Cold Water Township, Cross County, but was then Poinsett County, and after putting 100 under improvement, they closed out the business in 1859, removed to this farm. In 1861 Mr. Pope enlisted in the Confederate service, in Company A, of the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, in which he was appointed third lieutenant, and served throughout the war. He was later made major, which position he held until after the battle of Shiloh, when he was then transferred to Price’s command, and took part in that never-to-be forgotten raid through Missouri: In this he officiated as brigade-quartermaster, being in McCray’s Brigade. After the war Mr. Pope came home and engaged in farming for the next nine years. Then followed a period of nine years in which he held a position in the largest dry goods house in Wittsburg. In 1885, after his return home, he was elected to the State senate, which office he still fills. Maj. Pope was born in Virginia, in 1830, and was a son of Nathan and Annie (Stephenson) Pope, natives of Virginia. Nathan Pope was a planter, and one of the largest slave-owners in Virginia, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. His father was a participant in the Revolutionary War, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Nathan Pope was in the battle of Parkersfield at the time of the insurrection of the negroes in 1831, during which he was unhorsed and slightly wounded, but was rescued by six of his companions from some sixty or seventy infuriated negroes. He was twice married, first to a Miss Joyner, by which marriage he was the father of two children. After his first wife’s death, Mr. Pope married Mrs. Annie (Stephenson) Barrett (the mother of our subject), who became the mother of eight children, Riddick, being the only child living. Mr. Pope was a member of the English Church, and Mrs. Pope a member of the Methodist Church. He died in 1841. Maj. Riddick Pope was married in December, 1865, to Miss Virginia Mosby, a daughter of J. H. and Maria (McClain) Mosby, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively, and the parents of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Pope are the parents of five children, all of whom (with Mrs. Pope) are deceased. Himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He affiliates with the K. of H., the K. & L. of H. the A. F. & A. M., being a Knight Templar, a member of the I. H., and is connected with the County Wheel. He is one of the leading politicians of his county, and very popular, as is shown by the overwhelming majority given him at the polls when elected to the senate, and which confidence has been more than justified by the way in which he has discharged his duties.