On the night of March 4, 1876, a great calamity befell Rev. Thomas Breckenridge Gatewood. His home, in the northern part of Amherst County, was consumed by fire, his youngest son, Boyd Elbert Gatewood, who was eleven years old, perishing in the flames. At the time of this catastrophe Mr. Gatewood, with his wife, was away from home and at one of his churches. With the house well destroyed all the family records, so that some of the dates given in this sketch are approximate only.
He was born in Amherst County, Virginia, October 6, 1826, and about 1860 was ordained to the gospel ministry, the presbytery being composed of Rev. John W. Hopkins and Rev. Armistead H. Ogden. He organized the Oak Grove Baptist Church, in the Albemarle Association, and served them as pastor for some fifteen years. He was also pastor for a number of years of the New Prospect, Piney Mount, and Corner Stone Churches. Later he served the Neriah and Mountain Branch Churches, in Rockbridge County. It is said that he married more couples than any preacher in his county, nor did county lines limit his activity in this sphere, for he was often called to Bedford and Rockbridge to perform this ceremony. It is also estimated that under his ministry more people were led to make profession of their faith in Christ than under any other minister of his day in Amherst County. The larger part of his service was near the place of his nativity. He was a great reader and a subscriber to the Religious Herald for forty years. He was fond of horseback riding, and took great interest in his home, a farm of some 85 acres. Here he entertained many guests with genial cordiality. Vigorous still at the great age of eighty, he was serving churches with real zeal, though with small material compensation.
Rev. P. H. Cowherd, who was his pastor for the last five years of the life of the venerable man of God, testifies to the attractiveness of this old soldier of Christ, who was always present at every service of his church, unless providentially hindered. He says of him : "He stood for truth and righteousness and was uncompromisingly opposed to everything that seemed wrong. He knew how to rebuke with all long-suffering and love. I have often heard him say: I want to be missed for the good I have done when I am gone!'"
He was married, about 1853, to Miss Editha Jane Christian, who bore him three daughters and two sons; of these children three are still living, namely : Mrs. V. S. Thornton, Covington, Va., Mrs. A. M. Watts, Amherst, and Mr. Marshall P. Gatewood, Pleasant View, Va. His second marriage was about November 8, 1879, and this wife, who was Miss Nannie Jane Thornton, and their daughter, Mrs. T. E. Lacy, Covington, Va., survive him. He died, after a month's illness, on June 2, 1913, and was buried in the cemetery, on the hill, near his home. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. E. W. Robertson.
