The Wharton and Radford families were prominent figures in Southwest Virginia, especially during the 19th century. Dr. John B. Radford is the namesake of Radford, Virginia. Both families had a hand in shaping Southwestern Virginia and leave a lasting legacy.

Gabriel Colvin Wharton (GCW) was born on July 23, 1824 in Culpepper, Virginia, to parents John Redd and Eliza Colvin Wharton. Gabriel (or, often, Gabe) attended private school and multiple academies before enrolling in the Virginia Military Institute in 1845. He graduated with distinction only two years later in 1847. Immediately after graduating, Gabriel held a number of teaching positions, tutoring children in Latin, French, math, and English. A year later, he took a job with the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, getting promoted soon after. By late 1856, Gabriel was chief engineer of the Washington and Alexandria Railroad. He worked in the southwestern United States as a civil engineer from 1857 to 1859 surveying possible road routes. Gabriel continued to work as a civil engineer, often surveying possible road routes until the beginning of the American Civil War. While he was not a staunch secessionist, he did support the economic and social institution of slavery. A Virginia loyalist and slaveholder, Gabriel held the idea that secession was necessary if state rights were oppressed. In April of 1861, he travelled to Richmond and began working as a lieutenant of engineers, making topographical surveys to assist in siting and erecting fortifications. Gabriel soon became Major Wharton, then Colonel, organizing regiments and marching into battle with General Floyd.

Anne Rebecca "Nannie" Radford was born on August 15, 1843 in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia to parents Dr. John Blair Radford and Elizabeth Campbell Taylor Radford. Nannie enjoyed a privileged upbringing, attending school in Salem, Virginia, and later at Cedar Hill Academy in Montgomery County. The Radford family was well-off; Dr. Radford owned 68 enslaved people and had a net worth of almost $65,000 by 1863. Once the war began, Nannie herself was a staunch supporter of the Confederate cause.

In early 1863, a friend introduced Nannie to Gabriel. By May 14, 1863, they were married. Soon after, he was promoted to brigadier general, effective July 8, 1863. Nannie and Gabriel had one child together, a son named William (Willie). Gabriel continued to serve in the Confederate forces, participating in operations in both the Western and Eastern Theaters, commanding divisions and brigades, and fighting in battles such as Cold Harbor, Monocacy, Cedar Creek, and Waynesboro. On June 4, 1865, Gabriel was paroled from Lynchburg, Virginia.

After the war, Gabriel went back to work at the railroad, overseeing the rebuilding of bridges damaged during the war. After a string of financial troubles, Gabriel ran for a seat in the House of Delegates, becoming a legislator in the Virginia General Assembly in 1871. During his time as state legislator, he helped establish the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, serving as a member of the Board of Visitors. Gabriel continued to run into business and financial trouble, borrowing money to start businesses like mills, hotels, and newspapers that failed, requiring the Whartons to sell or rent out much of their land to repay their debts. Nannie, frequently depressed and anxious about the state of their finances, managed their affairs when Gabriel went out West again in 1885 to work as an inspector of surveyors general and district land offices for the General Land Office in Washington. He continued to work away from home for the next few years, only returning to southwestern Virginia in 1889. On April 15th of the following year, Nannie died at the age of 46 after a long period of illness and emotional turmoil, most likely connected to earlier liver and bladder problems. After another failed business attempt, Gabriel ran for (and won) a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1897, supporting coining gold and silver, education, and state pensions for Confederate veterans. After dropping from the race the following term, Gabriel began to be more active in Confederate veterans' affairs, still struggling with his own debts. Gabriel seemed to care more about preserving the history of the war than continuing it. On May 11, 1906, he passed away at the age of 80.

The Wharton and Radford families held many enslaved people over the years, including Emeline Pate and Tim Lewis. Emeline and Tim entered a slave marriage in 1858. Purchased by Nannie's uncle James L. Taylor in 1856, Emeline acted as Nannie's personal servant when Taylor died. Also after Taylor died, Tim went with John Radford in 1861 when he went to war. When Nannie and Gabriel were married, Tim and Emeline were given to them as a wedding present. Like Tim did with John Radford, he waited on Gabriel while he was away in the army. Little is known about how Tim and Emeline felt or what they thought about events in their lives, as we only have Nannie and Gabriel's interpretation. Tim and Emeline remained closely involved with the Whartons through the end of the war and after. Sometime in 1864, Tim began to go by William. When Nannie and Gabriel had their son, Emeline took over much of his care. Towards the end of the war, Gabriel told William that if he ever wanted to leave, that he would provide a horse, money, and a pass for William to go north "as a man" rather than sneaking away. After the war, like many freed people, William and Emeline stayed on with the Whartons working for wages. They legally reaffirmed their marriage in 1866, living next door to the Whartons while William worked on the Radford farm and Emeline worked as Nannie's housemaid. By 1875, the Lewises were no longer working for the Whartons, but still lived close by. In 1882, they moved to a house and lot in Christiansburg, severing any remaining ties or communication with the Whartons.