Randolph Cannaday
Browsing through the archives of The Enterprise, one particular article from March 1, 1945, immediately caught my attention. It mentioned that Patrick County had produced a man who had been featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! That surprised me because I had always believed there was only one Patrick Countian to earn that distinction—Dickey Wood, the fascinating mountain man buried in the center of his four wives high along the Patrick-Floyd County line.
As it turns out, there were two.
The second was Randolph Cannaday, a Patrick County native whose remarkable life carried him from the hills of Patrick County to Dickenson County, where he lived to celebrate his 101st birthday. His longevity, Civil War service, extraordinary memory, and fascinating life story earned him a place in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! joining Dickey Wood as one of Patrick County’s most unusual and memorable citizens.
The deeper I researched Randolph Cannaday, the more I realized that I didn’t need to tell his story for him. Mr. Cannaday had already done that.
Through newspaper interviews and a rare autobiographical account written in his own words, he preserved his memories of growing up in Patrick County, serving in the Civil War, raising a family, and building a new life in Dickenson County. Rather than rewrite his remarkable story, I believe it is best told by the man himself.
So, for this week’s Patrick Pioneers, let’s allow Randolph Cannaday to tell his own story.
From the Stuart Enterprise, March 1, 1945
PATRICK MAN FAMOUS
Some years ago in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not,” the following account of Randolph Cannaday of Patrick County was given:
“Randolph Cannady, Patrick County, Va., born 1827, died 1928, was born with a full set of teeth, and died with the same set of teeth at the age of 101.”
Some, who felt they would have known of this man, had he existed, scoffed at this story, so an investigation was instituted and the following facts are established and should be of interest to many Patrick people, especially to those living in the Charity community, since the fact is well established that such a man lived there.
There is no mention of his teeth, or age at the time of his death, but Ripley, as we know, is supposed to be able to substantiate any claim he makes.
Randolph Cannaday was the son of old Billie Cannaday, who had 24 children.
Old Billie Cannaday lived and owned the Charity farm, now owned by the late Hon. C. P. Nolen.
Billie Cannaday, the father of Randolph, gave the lot on which Charity church now stands, hence the name “Charity,” because of the gift.
Personal Interview with Randolph Cannaday, June 20, 1923 (Transcriber Unknown)
I was born December 27, 1827, in Patrick County, Virginia. My parents were William and Patsy (Wright) Cannady. My grandfather Wright came from Ireland. He lived in Rockingham County, North Carolina. My grandfather Cannady was named Pleasant Cannady and his wife was an Edwards. He lived in Buckingham County, Virginia, about 100 miles below Lynchburg. (The handwritten note identifies Patsy as “Patsy (Wright) Kennedy.”)
I think he was born in Virginia, and was of English ancestry. My parent’s children were:
Polly Cannady married Reuben Ratcliff and lived in Texas.
Betsey Cannady married Anderson Taylor and lived in Middle Tennessee.
Nancy Cannady married a Taylor and lived in Middle Tennessee.
James Cannady married Charity Agee and lived in Patrick County, Virginia.
William Cannady married a Hylton and lived in Floyd County, Virginia.
Fleming Cannady married Susan Thomas and lived in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
Joshua Cannady married a Short and lived in Gallipolis, Ohio.
Constant Cannady married Sallie Hall and lived in Danville, Virginia.
Susan Cannady married Lewis Burnette and lived in Patrick County, Virginia.
Jacob Burl Cannady married Cannady and lived in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
Pleasant Cannady married Debbie Hall and lived in Patrick County, Virginia.
Stephen Cannady married a Lemons and lived in Floyd County, Virginia. .
Marshall Parerson Cannady married Anne Sumpter and lived in Patrick County, Virginia.
Greenville Cannady died young, unmarried.
Thomas Cannady died young, unmarried.
Ira Cannady died young, unmarried.
Mahala Cannady died at age of 14 years.
Hessie Cannady died young, unmarried.
Delilah Cannady married James Moran and lived in Patrick County, Virginia.
Martha Cannady married John Moran and lived in Floyd County, Virginia.
There were three others, whose names have slipped my mind. My parents had 24 children, and somehow, I always liked the one called “Rannel” best. It’s been a long time since I saw my brothers or sisters. None of them moved out in this section with me.
I had no schooling and have been a farmer all my life. I enlisted in the Confederate Army near the beginning of the Civil War and served four years. My outfit was Co. D, 51st Virginia Regiment. It was raised in Patrick County, Virginia. I was at Fort Donelson and escaped with General Floyd. I was also in the battle at Bowling Green and other engagements.
I cast my first vote for Archibald Stuart, grandfather of Governor Henry C. Stuart, for State Senate. My next vote was for General Taylor for President.
In January 1852, I married Mary Jane Viers (Via), a daughter of Samuel and Hetty (Edwards) Viers in Patrick County, Virginia. She was born in 1830 and died in 1914. We lived on a farm in Patrick County until after the Civil War. In April 1867, we moved to the Sand Lick community in Dickenson County, Virginia. There were four of us. We hauled our household goods in a cart drawn by a little yoke of cattle—our thorough French County-boy Jackson’s Ferry on New River—by Wytheville, by Tazewell and Richlands and down Levisa River to two and one-half miles above Grundy, Virginia, at the mouth of Little Prater, where John Yates (father of Major. Yates) lived; then by sheep-path up Little Prater and down Russell Prater, we went to housekeeping at the Clifton House on Tilda Anderson Branch. In the same year—1867—I sold my yoke of oxen for $75.00 and paid Lewis Edwards $100.00 for a tract of land on Backbone Ridge. They deed called for 100 acres, more or less, but when it was poured later, it amounted to 159 3/4 acres.
Twenty-seven people were in the group that came when we moved to Sand Lick. It took us 18 days to make the trip. Besides my family, James Turner, John Gillenwaters, and Isaac Viers brought their families.
When I came to Sand Lick in 1867, I found the following people in that community:
Jim Colley — where Tom Colley now lives.
Lewis Viers — at the Larkin Viers place.
John Colley — at Morgan Anderson’s.
Jonathan Sifers — near Haysi.
Lewis Edwards — on Backbone Ridge.
Noah Sykes — on Backbone Ridge.
Jackie Arlington — on Road Branch.
Jake Arlington — at Joe Viers’ place.
Andy Edwards — in Uncle Jeff Anderson Viers’.
David Deel — at Dick Deel’s on Viers Ridge.
Jonathan Wright — at Moss (Clinchco).
Arch Rose — on Mill Creek.
Ab Taylor — on Mill Creek.
Charles Anderson — at Tilda Anderson Branch.
John Hay — on Backbone Ridge.
Ambrose Hay — on Backbone Ridge.
My wife and I had the following children:
Louisa Cannady married John Barton and lives in this county.
Elijah Cannady married Delia Turner and lives in Buchanan County, Virginia.
Rachel Cannady married S. J. Turner and lived at this place.
Peter Marion Cannady died young, unmarried.
Nancy Cannady married Albert Owens and lived near Russell Prater.
Polly Cannady married Larkin Viers and lives near Sand Lick.
Susan Cannady died young.
From the Danville Bee, November 29, 1927
Voter, 100, Rode to Polls in Downpour
In the person of Randolph Cannaday, of Martha Gap, who will be one hundred years old on December 27th, Dickenson County believes it has produced the oldest voter in Virginia in the recent elections.
Mr. Cannaday rode on horseback more than a mile to the Turner polling place, through a steady rain, to cast his vote for the Democratic candidates, most of whom were successful.
From Roanoke Times, December 30, 1927
Clintwood, Dec. 29. (Special)—Remarkably well preserved, and in the midst of more than two hundred admiring friends and relatives, Randolph Cannaday, Martha Gap, Dickenson County, Virginia, celebrated his one hundred and first birthday on December 27.
It has been over twenty-five years since Mr. Cannaday saw either of his brothers or sisters, all of whom are dead now. He hardly remembers some of the oldest brothers and sisters who married young and migrated to many states for homes. His two youngest sisters, Delilah and Martha, who married Morans and settled in Patrick and Floyd counties, had sixteen children each, he states.
Four of Mr. Cannaday’s five living children—two others died in infancy—were present for his centennial celebration. These were Mrs. Louisa Barton and Mrs. Rachel Turner, of Martha Gap, Mrs. Polly Viers, of Viers, Dickenson County, and Elijah, of nearby Grundy, Buchanan County. The other daughter, Mrs. Albert Owens, lives in Buchanan County at Prater.
Many of Mr. Cannaday’s thirty-six grandchildren, two hundred thirty great-grandchildren, and sixty great-great-grandchildren were also present.
Receiving his many guests from all parts of the county, Mr. Cannaday exhibited keen interest in each one, although his failing eyesight hindered him in quick recognition of those he knew. Only by loud speaking could his questioners make him understand their inquiries, which were then firmly and definitely answered in remarkably clear, pure English, considering that he had no schooling and cannot read or write.
Aided by a keen memory of events covering more than eighty years, he prefers to discuss reminiscences of his early life and the Civil War days, during which he served four years in Company D, 51st Virginia Regiment. At Fort Donelson and Bowling Green and in other engagements he had his part.
He assigns the same reason for his long life as for his preservation in the war activities of his young manhood—”the will of God.”
After lifting his cup of coffee, without the slightest sign of nervousness, to complete a hearty lunch, Mr. Cannaday began to comment on the Scriptures, always quoting his Bible text in support.
The conflict of opinions as to the correct Gospel version or interpretation, resulting in hundreds of denominations, he would reduce to: “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.”
Stating that God, and not man, can only save and preserve, and that our sorrows result solely from our refusal to obey God, the religious philosophy of Dickenson’s first centenarian is:
“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
From Patrick, where he states he worked “four months out of three” on his father’s tobacco farm as a lad, he came to Sand Lick, in Dickenson County, in 1867.
Bearing his eighty-five pounds with steadiness, and making only slight use of his cane, Mr. Cannaday went into the yard after lunch to pose for several pictures.
Including those to face the Kodaks with Mr. Cannaday was his oldest guest, John T. Edwards, 78, of Sand Lick.
Asserting that he had never turned away any traveler, or charged for his hospitality, Mr. Cannaday opined that society’s troubles are due chiefly to our greed for money and the pleasures money buys, quoting again his answer from the Bible:
“The love of money is the root of all evil.”
From the Danville Bee, February 28, 1928
Virginian, 101 Years Old, Died
Randolph Cannaday, Martha Gap, Dickenson County, who celebrated his one hundred first birthday on last December 27, died after a week’s illness at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Rachel Turner, on February 14.
Mr. Cannaday had been remarkably alert for his age up until a week before his death, when he fell as he was on his way to dinner. A day after the fall he began to feel ill and gradually got weaker. He was buried near his old home.
Long after the crowds dispersed from his 101st birthday celebration and the newspaper reporters laid down their pencils, Randolph Cannaday’s greatest legacy was never his remarkable age.
It was his faith.
He survived war, endured hardship, helped settle a new community, raised generations of descendants, and welcomed strangers into his home. Yet when asked to explain his extraordinary life, he pointed not to himself, but to God. Perhaps that is why his story still resonates nearly one hundred years later.
For questions, comments, or story ideas, please contact Woody at or 276-692-9626.
