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The Rockbridge Regional Library and the Rockbridge Historical Society will host historian Charles A. Bodie for a program on a 19th century governor from Rockbridge County and subject of his recent book, “James McDowell of Virginia: the Perils of an Antebellum Southern Reformer,” at the Rockbridge Regional Library on March 19 at 6 p.m.
James McDowell, governor and congressman of Virginia in 1843 until his death in 1851, was born in and lived in Rockbridge County. He was an early advocate for progressive causes such as the end of slavery in the commonwealth, economic reforms, and public education, but was eventually compelled to change his rhetoric.
Bodie will detail regional and national issues of the time that affected political and personal challenges of the McDowell family. He will discuss McDowell’s advocacy for public education and for transportation improvements that were implemented as far west as Jordans Point in Lexington. McDowell built a Georgian-style house in Lexington in 1827 where he raised his family and where he died in 1851. The house is now part of the current Col Alto Hampton Inn property at 401 E. Nelson St.
Bodie received his doctorate in history from Indiana State University and taught at Mountain Gateway Community College and the Virginia Military Institute. He is also the author of “Remarkable Rockbridge: the Story of Rockbridge County, Virginia,” published 2011 by Rockbridge Historical Society.
“James McDowell of Virginia: The Perils of an Antebellum Southern Reformer” was published in 2023 by Lexington Books, an imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group Inc. The book is available for check-out at Rockbridge Regional Library.
