Enrolled 29 June 1863 as a private; commissioned 2nd Lt. 1 Nov 1864; Captain (postwar) 9 Aug 1865. [CDV owned by Linda Fluharty.]
Tax stamp dated Sept 1864, when Blue was a private.
Richard Whiting Blue was the son of William Blue and Margaret Whiting, residents of Taylor County, (W) Virginia at the time of the 1850 census.
1850 Census, District 63, Taylor County, (W) Virginia
#106/107
William Blue, 34, Farmer, $1060, b VA
Margaret Blue, 30, b VA [Note: Maiden name is Whiting]
Richard Blue, 9, b VA
Almira Blue, 6, b VA
Mary Whiting, 54, b VAVOLUNTEER SERVICE: "Richard W. Blue Co. A, 3 Reg't Va. Mtd. Inf., age 22, height 5 feet, 9 inches, complexion fair, eyes grey, hair dark, place of birth Wood Co., W.Va., occupation student; was enrolled June 29, 1863, and M. O. May 22, 1866 with new Co. F, 6 W.Va. Cav.
From M. I., - to M. O. -, he held the rank of priv. and 2" Lieut. M. I. as 2" Lieut. to date Nov. 2, 1864 and the rolls on file for that period show him present except as follows: Co. A, 3 Va. Mtd. Inf. became Jany or Feb 1864 old Co A 6 W.Va. Cav, from which transferred Sept. or Oct, 1864 to new Co F, 6 W.Va. Cav.
Aug. 31, 1863: In Hosp. at Beverly, Va. of wounds received at battle of White Sulphur Springs Aug. 26, 1863.
Dec. 31, 1863, absent with leave (wounded)
Feb. 29, 1864, presence or absence not stated.
Apl. 30, 1864. On duty at Webster with Regtl. baggage.
Dec 31, 1864. Taken prisoner at New Creek, W.Va. Nov. 28, 1864 and so borne Feb. 28, 1865.
Aug. 31, 1865. On detached duty Ft. Leavenworth, Kas.
Oct. 31, 1865, enroute from Ft. Kearney N. T. to Ft. Laramie D. T.
Prisoner of War Records show him captured at New Creek, Va. Nov. 28, 64. Conf'd at Richmond, Va.
Dec. 7, 64, sent to Danville, Va., Dec 11, 64, returned to Richmond, Va. Feby 18, 65, paroled at James River, Va. Feby 22, 65 admitted to hospital Div No 1. Annapolis, Md. Feby 23, 65, sent to regiment Apr 4, 65.
The medical records show him treated as follows: Wounded, right ankle, Gunshot, at the battle of Rocky Gap, W. Va., Aug. 26, 1863; Treated Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, 1863, Gunshot wound right ankle, furloughed Sept. 6, 1863; Treated Feby 23 to Mar 6, 1865, Debilitas, on leave Mar. 6, 1865. Remarks - S. O. No. 106 A.G.O. Mar. 6, 1865. No additional record of disability found.
On 14 Dec 1864, the 5th & 6th West Virginia Cavalries were consolidated and served through 31 Dec 1865. Blue was commissioned 2nd lieutenant 1 Nov 1864, Company "F" and became captain of that company 9 Aug 1865. He was honorably discharged 22 May 1866, at Leavenworth, Kansas.
Richard Whiting Blue married Virginia Protzman about 1866. Their children were Florence, Clarence, Grace, Mattie, Cordelia, Madge A., and John W.
Virginia was the daughter of John Protzman, a shoemaker (b Maryland), and his wife Martha [Wright], found in the 1850 census [Prootzman] of Monongalia County, (W) Virginia.
1880 Census, Mound City, Linn County, Kansas
#120/120
R. W. Blue, 38, Lawyer, VA VA VA
Virginia Blue, Wife, 37, VA VA PA
Florence Blue, 12, Dau, At school, WV VA VA
Clarence Blue, 12, Son, At school, WV VA VA
Grace Blue, 7, Dau, At school, KS, VA VA
Mattie Blue, 5, Dau, At home, KS, VA VA
Cordelia Blue, 2, Dau, At home, KS, VA VA1900 Census, District 35, Salamanca, Cherokee County, Kansas
#176/177
Richard W. Blue, Head, b Sep 1841, 58, Lawyer, married 33 years, VA VA VA
Virginia Blue, wife, b Sep 1842, 57, 7 children/4 living, VA VA PA
Cordelia Blue, Dau, b May 1878, 22, Single, KS VA VA
John Blue, b Sep 1886, 14, Dry good clerk, KS VA VA
Madge Blue, Dau, b Aug 1883, 16, KS VA VA
Margarette Blue, Mother, b Nov 1820, 79, Widow, VA VA VA
Virginia Protzman Blue was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, under Patriot Captain Henry Darrah:
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume 81, page 86
Mrs. Virginia Protzman Blue DAR ID Number: 80217
Born in Morgantown, W. Va.
Wife of R. W. Blue.
Descendant of Capt. Henry Darrah.
Daughter of John Protzman (1808-79) and Martha Wright (1818-87), his wife, m. 1839.
Granddaughter of John Wright and Margaret Darrah, his wife.
Gr-granddaughter of Henry Darrah and Ann Jamison, his wife.
Henry Darrah (1726-82) was commissioned lieutenant, 1776; promoted captain, 1777, and commanded a company of Bucks County militia, 1780. He was born in Pennsylvania.
The death of Richard Whiting Blue, pension certificate #92564, occurred on the morning of 28 Jan 1907 at his home in Bartlesville, Indian Territory. His widow died May 25, 1922.
A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, Volume 3, page 1235:
RICHARD W. BLUE, a Union veteran of Virginia and a leading lawyer and judge of Kansas, finally advanced to the halls of Congress as a representative of his adopted state. He was born in Wood County, Virginia, September 8, 1841, and was raised on a mountain farm near the present city of Grafton. In 1859 he entered Monongalia Academy at Morgantown, Virginia, and remained at that institution several years, first as pupil and later as teacher. Subsequently he entered Washington College, Pennsylvania, and remained there until he enlisted in the Third West Virginia Infantry, at the opening of the Civil war. Mr. Blue was wounded in the Battle of Rocky Gap, in Southwestern Virginia, promoted to second lieutenant for gallantry in action, and within a short time was commissioned captain. In one of the engagements he was captured and held as a prisoner of war at Libby prison and also at Danville, Va. The regiment was mounted and after the Salem raid was changed, by order of the secretary of war, to the Sixth West Virginia Cavalry. Its final service was in a campaign on the plains against the Indians at the close of the war. The regiment was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, so that Mr. Blue was in Kansas during the early '60s. After his discharge from the army he returned to Virginia, taught school, read law and was admitted to the bar of that state in 1870. In 1871 he settled in Linn County, Kansas, but in 1898 he moved to Labette County, and finally located in Cherokee County. There he became a leading lawyer, serving for two terms as county attorney and twice as probate judge. Mr. Blue also served for two terms in the State Senate prior to 1894, when he was elected congressman-at-large from Kansas. He was renominated by acclamation in 1896, but swept aside by the wave of populism, and was actively engaged in the practice of law until his death at Bartles, Kansas, January 27, 1907. [28 Jan 1907, Bartlesville, KS]
KANSAS, A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Edited by Frank W. Blackmar, A. M. Ph. D.; Chicago: Standard Publishing Company, 1912; Vol. I, pages 198-199.
RICHARD WHITING BLUE, jurist and a member of Congress, was born in Wood county, Va., Sept. 8, 1841, and was raised on a mountain farm near the present city of Grafton. During the summer he worked on the farm and in the winter attended such private schools as the locality afforded, for Virginia had no free common schools in that period. In 1859 he entered Monongalia Academy at Morgantown, Va., then under the supervision of Rev. J. R. Moore. He remained at this institution several years, first as pupil and later as teacher. Subsequently he entered Washington College, Pa., and remained there until he enlisted in the Third West Virginia infantry, at the opening of the Civil war. Mr. Blue was wounded in the battle of Rocky Gap, in southwestern Virginia, and promoted to second lieutenant, for gallantry in action. Within a short time he was commissioned captain. In one of the engagements he was captured and held as a prisoner of war at Libby prison and also at Danville, Va. The regiment was mounted and after the Salem raid was changed, by order of the secretary of war, to the Sixth West Virginia cavalry. Its final service was in a campaign on the plains against the Indians at the close of the war. The regiment was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, so that Mr. Blue was in Kansas during the early '60s. After his discharge from the army he returned to Virginia, taught school, read law and was admitted to the bar of that state in 1870. In 1871 he came to Kansas to locate permanently, and settled in Linn county but in 1898 he removed to Labette county, and finally located in Cherokee county. Mr. Blue took rank among the prominent lawyers of Kansas; was twice chosen probate judge of his county; twice elected county attorney, and twice chosen state senator. In 1894 he was elected Congressman-at-large from Kansas; was renominated by acclamation in 1896, but was defeated by the wave of Populism that swept over the country that year. After leaving Congress Mr. Blue resumed his law practice, in which he was actively engaged until his death on Jan. 27, 1907, at Bartles, Kan. [28 Jan 1907, Bartlesville, KS]
BIOGRAPHIES ONLINE
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 12, 1885 - We note the death of Miss Florence Blue, the daughter of Senator R. W. Blue, at her home in Pleasanton, Linn County, Kansas. Miss Blue had just attained her 19th birthday, and was to have been married on the 11th inst. Her death was sudden, wholly unexpected, as she dropped dead while engaged at some household duty, without any premonition of sickness, or indisposition even. Senator Blue is widely and favorably known throughout Kansas, and the Courier unites with his numerous friends in the condolence that is extended him and family in the hour of their grievous sorrow and afflication.
Artesia Advocate (Eddy County, New Mexico), 15 April 1911 - Graham, Mrs. J. Dale from Columbus, Kansas, wife of Dr. Graham. Leaves son, Calvin, age 9, and mother Mrs. R. W. Blue; a sister, Mrs. Wilmer Bennett of Concord, Kansas and brother John W. Blue of Sapulpa, Okla.
The La Cygne Weekly Journal, Linn County (KS)
Saturday, January 3, 1880
Dr. R. J. Peare, of Pleasanton and Miss Nora E. Blue, formerly of La Cygne, were married at kansas City, Mo., December 28, 1879, by Rev. S. B. Bell. The bride is a sister of Hon. R. W. Blue, of Mound City, and the groom is one of Linn county's best known physicians. The Journal wishes the newly wedded couple long life and happiness.
