Churchville in Augusta County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

James Edward Hanger

Photographed By Robert H. Moore, II, circa 2003

1. James Edward Hanger Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Born near Churchville on 25 Feb. 1843, Hanger joined the Churchville Cavalry at Phillipi, W.Va., on 2 June 1861, where the next morning he was wounded. The resulting amputation of his leg was probably the first of the Civil War. He convalesced at his parents' house, which stood nearby. Within three months he had invented the first artificial limb modeled on the human leg and hinged at the knee. Hanger constructed factories in Staunton and France and England. On 15 June 1919 he died and was buried in Washington, D.C., his home since 1906.

Erected 1956 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-156.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 2, 1861.

Location. 38°

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13.558′ N, 79° 9.812′ W. Marker is in Churchville, Virginia, in Augusta County. Marker is on Churchville Avenue (U.S. 250) just west of Buffalo Gap Highway (State Route 42), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Churchville VA 24421, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Last Indian Clash (approx. 2 miles away); West View (approx. 4.1 miles away); Mount Pleasant (approx. 4.4 miles away); Colonel George Moffett (approx. 4.4 miles away); Augusta County Training School (approx. 5.7 miles away); Project Dogwood: Staunton's Tradition Reborn (approx. 6.2 miles away); Lt. Col. Jacob Earl "Shorty" Manch (approx. 6.3 miles away); 116th Infantry Regiment Memorial (approx. 6.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Churchville.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 2, 2010

2. James Edward Hanger Marker

James Edward Hanger image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Robert H. Moore, II

3. James Edward Hanger

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,381 times since then and 124 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 6, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. 2. submitted on May 8, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on February 6, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.