Eliza E. Nicholson was born March 1868 in Madison County, VA. She was the daughter of Peter (1837) and Rutha (1833) Nicholson.
August 18, 1888, Phinnell & Eliza married in Madison County, VA.
Phinnell and Eliza had 10 Children:
1. Dicey Corbin b: 27 May 1889 in Madison, Madison County, VA
2. Samuel Corbin b: May 1891 in Madison, Madison County, VA
3. Benjamin Corbin b: Aug 1892 in Madison, Madison County, VA
4. Blanche B. Corbin b: Jan 1894 in Madison, Madison County, VA Married Edward "Eddie" Nicholson
5. Harrison Corbin b: 1895 in Madison, Madison County, VA
6. Edmonia Corbin b: Nov 1896 in Madison, Madison County, VA
7. George Warren Corbin b: Feb 1897 in Madison, Madison County, VA
8. Mary A. Corbin b: May 1899 in Madison, Madison County, VA
9. Mazie (M.A.) Corbin b: 1900 in Madison, Madison County, VA Married Charlie Nicholson
10. James F. Corbin b: 1908 in Madison, Madison County, VA
Phinnell Corbin "Shot & killed Clark Dodson ca 1910. Clark was drunk and throwing rocks at Phinnels cabin trying to get Phinnels daughter's to come outside - Haywood Nicholson was with him. Clark passed out and Haywood was still yelling. Phinnel told him to get on his way but he threw more rocks. Phinnel shot at Haywood and hit him in the rear with buckshot. He went yelling to Clark and Clark got up and went back to Phinnels daring him to shoot him and Phinnel did."
"Aug 1915, George Pollack of Skyland had a special fair at Skyland and the proceeds went to provide a better home for Fennel & family. They raised $350.00 and built him a nice little cabin."
In 1935 Phinnell Corbin listed as Head of Family.
Eliza died before Phinnell as his death certificate lists him as a widower.
Phinnell died May 23, 1945 in Staunton (Augusta County) VA of Heart Disease. He was buried May 25, 1945 at Western State Hospital Cemetery, Staunton, VA.
FINNELL CORBIN
Page News & Courier, Friday 30 Apr 1937
"Sighs For The "Swish" of Broken Back River
Finnell Corbin, who during his life..., has had several tilts with the law, though always coming out on top in court, a resident in the Corbin Hollow neighborhood in Madison county, not far from the Page county line, has been removed to one of the Old Folks Homes in a different part of the State.
Corbin, a familiar figure in Page county at intervals for the last half century, dispensing his wares- axe handles and split baskets- has had a friend in that institution where he is spending the closing days of his life write one of his relatives in Corbin Hollow, saying: "My treatment here is good, but I long for the roar and swish of Broken Back River along which I have always lived. I would like again to have a chance to show younger folks how to carve out axe handles and weave split baskets, but my days for that kind of work are over forever. Even if my fare in Corbin Hollow was meagre, often corn bread and potatoes and sometimes not these, I would again like to have a morsel of them as they were prepared by my mother when I was a boy and by myself when there was no one else to prepare them. Ever since I was a boy, Broken Back River even when it went on a tear, was music to my ears as it swirled and snarled by my cabin's door."
Edward Nicholson, 46, a son-in-law of Corbin, died a short time ago at his home in Corbin Hollow. The cause of his death was tuberculosis. Nicholson has many relatives living in Page county, where for the last thirty years, like his father-in-law, peddled baskets and axe handles in this county. His wares for that long have been kept on sale at the Kiblinger and Jenkins stores in Marksville district and at the Lee Judd store in Luray district.
Finnell Corbin years ago, shot and killed Clark Dodson, a youth, who was making himself an intruder in the Corbin home. Corbin was promptly acquitted by a Madison county jury. It is said that the then Commonwealth's Attorney of Madison refused to prosecute the case against Corbin before the charge had been half aired in court."
