Emporia, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Benjamin D. Tillar, Jr.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 9, 2009

1. Benjamin D. Tillar, Jr. Marker

Inscription. Benjamin Donaldson Tillar, Jr. (1853-1887), a Greensville County native, president of the Atlantic and Danville Railroad, and member of the House of Delegates, is known as "the man who named Emporia." Two villages, Hicksford and Belfield, merged in 1887 to form the town. Tillar named the town after Emporia, Kansas, the hometown of his friend, United States Senator Preston B. Plumb. Emporia comes from the Latin word meaning a place of plenty where business is transacted. The town became a city in 1967.

Erected 1992 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number UM-39.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 36° 41.26′ N, 77° 32.521′ W. Marker is in Emporia, Virginia. It is on South Main Street (U.S. 301) 0.1 miles north of Spring Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 204 South Main Street, Emporia VA 23847, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southside Virginia

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Robert Hicks (within shouting distance of this marker); Chaplain Thomas M. Bulla

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Greensville County (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); In Memoriam (about 500 feet away); Veterans of the 1914-1918 World War I (about 500 feet away); Emporia – Greensville Veteran War Memorial (about 500 feet away); Shiloh Baptist Church (about 600 feet away); Meherrin River Trail (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Emporia.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Confederate Soldiers of Greensville County (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

South Main Street (facing north) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 9, 2009

2. South Main Street (facing north)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 25, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,444 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 13, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.