Virgil B. Bishop (1854 - 1924)

Born 1854 in Broome County New York, USA

Husband of Minnie J. (Miller) Bishop — married 21 Oct 1885 in Mason, West Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Mar 1924 at about age 70 in Monterey, Highland County Virginia, USA

Biography

V.B. Bishop, well-known merchant of Monterey, died suddenly last Saturday morning about 1 o’clock at his home in Monterey. While not enjoying robust health in recent years, death came unexpectedly and was a distinct shock to his many friends throughout the county. He retired shortly before eleven o’clock in his usual health, but awoke at one and complained of what was supposed to be an attack of indigestion, to which he was subject. While his wife was ministering to him, preparing such remedies as had formerly been used in such attacks, he suddenly fell over on his pillow and passed away without a struggle. Mr. Bishop was born 69 years ago in the state of New York, a son of John T. & Margaret Peale Bishop, at the age of eleven moved to Rockingham County, Va. He came to Monterey in the year 1883, and in 1884 was married to Minnie Miller of Mason county, W. Va. Highland Recorder March 14, 1924

Parents:

• John Titus Bishop (1823 - 1896)
• Margaret Catharine Peale Bishop (1830 - 1914)

Spouse:

• Minnie Miller Bishop (1860 - 1938)

Children:

• Miller Virgil Bishop (1887 - 1965)*
• Bess Bishop Payne (1888 - 1979)*
• Marguerite Bishop (1891 - 1894)*
• John Henderson Bishop (1896 - 1981)*
• Robert Bishop (1899 - 1907)*

Sources

WV MARRIAGE REGISTER - Virgil B Bishop 30 yrs and Minnie J Miller 25 yrs on 21st October1885 in Mason County West Virginia by Rev. Waller E. Boggs - http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=12179328&Type=Marriage

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95616230/virgil-b-bishop: accessed 29 April 2023), memorial page for Virgil B. Bishop (1854–8 Mar 1924), Find A Grave: Memorial #95616230, citing Monterey Cemetery, Monterey, Highland County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Kent (contributor 47846556).
• Burial: Monterey Cemetery - Monterey, Highland County Virginia, USA
• Photo: Has a photo of gravestone on gravesite

Highland Recorder January 11,1924 PASSING OF A LANDMARK V.B. Bishop announces in this issue of the Recorder that he is closing out his stock with the view to retire from the mercantile business. He has been in business in Monterey for a long time, dating from the 1880's and has made a record as a merchant. Before the days of the Greenbrier Branch of the C&O railroad and the cross-roads country stores, an extensive wholesale and retail trade was done by the firm. That was also before the day of motor trucks & Robert Ervin with his big “Newtown” wagon & team of grays were constantly on the road marketing produce and re-stocking. Creating as they did a market for all sorts of produce and in unlimited quantities. Prior to this day, ten dozen eggs would have glutted the market & a whole porker was never taken in trade, while poultry, if purchased at all, was in small quantities. Their trade in game & furs was large and occasions are recalled when 15 to 25 whole deer could be seen at the store awaiting shipment. Thus Mr. Bishop, who was a member of the original firm, may be regarded as a pioneer in the development of business in his line in the county and while he nor his friends would claim that he was “in it for his health,” few will hesitate to give him credit for lifting this section from slow primitive methods to a modern, progressive level.

In partnership with his brother John C. Bishop they operated the store as Bishop Brothers until March 1894. When Virgil became sole owner. John moved to Greensboro, N.C., opening a grocery store there about 1902.