Portrait of Andrew Jackson Whitehead, circa 1850s

When delving into the history of Chatham, researchers don’t have to dig far before uncovering the extensive tangle of Whitehead-related businesses, historic houses, and important individuals during past decades. This large and notable family originated with Richard Whitehead (born 1773) and his wife former Miss Pency Camden (born 1775) who came from Amherst County. Long before the formation of Gretna, Richard Whitehead bought land in the northern section of Pittsylvania County near the Stinking River. In 1817 he purchased an old house originally built for Thomas Mustain (born ~1713) along what is now Telegraph Road. There the Whitehead family established a legacy of descendants that many Pittsylvania County residents–including the author of this article–can trace back to in their own family trees. 

While it may seem obvious where Richard got the inspiration to name his son Andrew Jackson Whitehead, it is notable that the child was born 14 years before Jackson served as the seventh U.S. president. In fact, he was born only two months following the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, where Jackson led an overwhelming victory against the British and brought fame to his name. During the early 1850s, A.J. Whitehead briefly served in the House of Delegates for Pittsylvania County, and worked as a well-known country merchant for the remainder of his life.

The 1860 census indicates that A.J. Whitehead established a store near the community of Mt. Airy and had help from his nephew Richard H. L. Whitehead (from Missouri) who worked as a store clerk. By 1861, business had improved enough to add post office capabilities to the store. They filed the paperwork and the office was established on April 16, 1861. However, during the time when news had to be delivered on horseback, it is likely that residents in rural Pittsylvania had not yet heard of the outbreak of war four days prior in Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Therefore, Whitehead’s Store was the only post office established in the county during the Civil War, but not on purpose. 

An original postal form filled out by the postmaster in 1868 detailed that Whitehead’s Store was very close to Straightstone Creek on a road 6 miles northeast of Chalk Level and 4.5 miles northwest of Mt. Airy. Some of their neighbors of note included farmer Joel Mustain, farmers Pascal Tyler Shelton and Morton Pannill Shelton, also a miller named Joshua Mullins, Baptist Clergyman John Davidson, cabinetmaker Joseph East, and farmer Jeremiah White Graves (whose daughter married A.J.’s son). Journal entries written by J.W. Graves between 1859-1861 detailed many entries mentioning Whitehead’s Mill, for example: “We have 12 Logs at Whitehead’s saw mill to be sawed into squared edged [flooring,] some into sheeting plank.”

Andrew Jackson Whitehead seems to have suffered from an illness that led to his early death at the age of forty-six, and he was buried in August of 1861. His simple tombstone can be found at Chatham Burial Park among many of his relatives, including his parents who were reinterred there in the 1930s from their original burial site near the family home. A.J.’s land was gradually sold off by 1863 and owned by the family of Allison Berger for many years. Whitehead’s Store Post Office continued to operate under a few different individuals until it was ultimately discontinued in 1872. 

A.J.’s son John Richard Whitehead spent several years as postmaster of Hurt’s Store (now the Town of Hurt) between 1871 and 1877, and also named his son John Hurt Whitehead during that time. The 1878 Gray’s Map of Chatham showed a Whitehead’s Store on Main Street across from the entrance to what is now Competition Alley, and on the north side of Pruden Street, which at that time was called Bocock Alley. In the early 1880’s J.R. Whitehead had a grand house built at 335 South Main Street and. Several of his relatives owned a list of businesses in town throughout the twentieth century. A final remnant of those days is visible at the a newer (circa 1890s) Whitehead’s Store building at 11 South Main Street (now Callands Coffee) where the word “Whitehead’s” can be seen on the tiled entryway.