Page News & Courier
Heritage and Heraldry
The Roudabush Family of Page County, Part II
Article of August 30, 2001
When last we were engaged in this topic, Jacob Roudabush, Sr. had moved on to Ohio. One son, (also named Jacob) after accompanying his father to Strabane, Pennsylvania, opted to go come back to Rockingham County in 1818. Jacob II�s wife, whom he had married in 1808 in Rockingham County, was Mary Magdalene Whitzel. Her parents, Peter and Mary Tutwiler Whitzel, remained in the Valley and probably had something to do with the return of Jacob II�s family.
Jacob � also a Roudabush miller like many others before him - died near Conrad�s Store (Elkton) on July 4, 1848. His wife would follow before 1860. In all, Jacob and Mary saw the births of 11 children. Born August 10, 1826, the 8th child - Peter William Roudabush � also a miller by profession, would become known as the immediate progenitor of the Page County lines. Peter ran many mills including, but not limited to, one in Greene County, a mill near Honeyville, and a mill near the Peter Printz home in Ida.
In December 1853, Peter married Elizabeth Ann Koontz (the daughter of John J. and Mary Bingman Koontz � John J. Koontz was the grandson of the famous Elder John Koontz). From 1854 to 1872, Peter and Elizabeth had seven sons and three daughters.
During the Civil War, the Page County line of the Roudabush family did not serve. At the beginning of the war, Peter was exempt for 1) being a miller and 2) being �over age 35.� Additionally, the oldest child was only 7. However, Peter�s brother, John Hiram Roudabush (age 34) resided in Augusta County and joined Co. H, 14th Virginia Cavalry. Apparently, three of Peter�s Rockingham County cousins served in Co. I, 7th Virginia Cavalry in the famous Laurel Brigade. It is unclear as to which family line these men were descended.
Clearly, at the very least, the names of two of Peter�s children show allegiance to the Commonwealth�s decision during the war. Major Ashby Roudabush and Virginia Jackson Roudabush revealed names prominent in the Valley in the war. In regard to M.A. Roudabush - there is an interesting story to note. It seems that, early in the war, then Lieutenant Colonel, Turner Ashby was riding with his regiment near one of the family mills. Ashby saw the new child (born Aug. 22, 1861) and asked if the boy had yet been named. When he learned that it had not � he pronounced that the boy be named �Major Ashby,� for the boy could not outrank him.
However, there may be a tie to the naming of M. A. Roudabush and the July 3, 1861 death by brutal wounds of Turner�s brother, Richard. Richard was a captain when mortally wounded and Turner, having himself been appointed to lieutenant colonel on July 17, 1861, and so terribly disturbed by his brother�s death, when naming the young Roudabush, may have been wishing that they name the boy to honor his brother who might have also been promoted to major had he lived. How appropriate it would be that Major married a woman by the name Virginia Belle (McAllister)!
As an additional note, the first of Major Ashby Roudabush�s sons was appropriately named for the family profession � �Miller.�
Over the years, there have been many changes in spelling to the original name of Raudenbusch � Roudabush, Raudabush, Radabush, Roudebush, Ruebush and Rubush.
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