Sunday's Obituary: John Walter Fairfax

Times-Dispatch (Richmond, VA)
March 23, 1908

Member of Longstreet's Staff Passes Away

Colonel John Walter Fairfax

Colonel John Walter Fairfax, who died yesterday at his residence, at Freestone, Prince William county, Va., after a long illness in the eightieth year of his age, was born in June 1828.  At an early age, Colonel Fairfax married Miss Mary Rogers of Loudoun county, and shortly thereafter purchased Oak Hill, the former home of President Monroe, from the latter's son-in-law, Mr. Gouverneur.  Here Colonel Fairfax resided until the close of the war, when he removed to Belle Grove, also in Loudoun county, and later he went to Freestone, which he inherited from his father, Henry Fairfax, of Dumfries.  At Freestone, Colonel Fairfax resided without intermission until his death.  Colonel Fairfax was a man of great personal charm and courage and of a most lovable character.  During the war Colonel Fairfax served with distinction on General Longstreet's staff, for whose military genius he had a high admiration.  Colonel Fairfax is survived by five children, the Hon. Henry Fairfax, who married Miss Eugenia Tennant, of Richmond; John W. Fairfax, Jr., unmarried; Hamilton R. Fairfax, who married Miss Elea nor Van Renneslear, of New York; Lindsay Fairfax, who married Miss Grace Bradford, of New York; and one daughter, Elizabeth Fairfax, who  married Col. Chas. G. Ayres, U.S.A.

Richmond Times-Dispatch
March 23, 1908