John Wilson Brodnax

(1821-1911)

At a Glance

John Brodnax was the son of Robert Brodnax and Nancy Russell Wilson (1791-1846) of Willow Oaks Plantation (also known as Cascade Plantation), Rockingham County. His grandparents were Col. John Wilson and Mary Wilson. Siblings William E Brodnax (1819-1820), Sally Jones Brodnax (1831-1844), and Travis Edward Brodnax (1834-1912) who lived in Greensboro NC.

Story

Served as a Major in Ransom's Brigade, CSA.

Biographical Data

Important Dates

John Wilson Brodnax was born on September 25, 1821, in Rockingham County, NC. He died on November 26, 1911.

Places of Residence

• Rockingham County, NC [1].

Schools Attended

• University of North Carolina, until 1841.

Relatives

• Spouse: Susan Mary Ruffin  (1827-1851), married in 1848. They had two daughters, Alice Brodnax (b. 1850) and Nannie Russell Brodnax (1851-1909).
• Others: Thomas Carter Ruffin [1] (father-in-law, 1787-1870) [1], Annie McNabb Kirkland (mother-in-law, 1794-1875) [1], Alice Roane Ruffin (sister-in-law, 1815-1873) [1], Mary Rebecca Jones  (sister-in-law, 1823-1878) [1] and Peter Browne Ruffin (brother-in-law, 1821-1900) [1].

References

1. Mary Claire Engstrom. The Book of Burwell Students: Lives of Educated Women in the Antebellum South. (Hillsborough: Hillsborough Historic Commission, 2007).