John Napoleon & Victoria Hargrave Darden
(January 6, 1883 - March 17, 1959 - April 1, 1894 - December 9, 1962 )
Eleven Children: Alphonso Ferdinand Darden Catherine Darden-Johnson Vivian Victoria Darden
John Henry Darden Horace Dubois Darden - Grace Vernon Darden-Bryant Hiawatha Darden - Kelly Miller Darden - Bernard George Darden Alvin Russell Darden - Mable Elizabeth Darden Jefferson
John Napoleon Darden was born in Jerusalem (now Courtland) Virginia on January 6, 1883 to Henry M. and Marcella Whitehead-Darden. Although, family records show that he only complete the third grade, he was well knownledgeable in conducting business. He left home at an early age and went to New York where he learned the trade of Stream Pressing and Dry Cleaning Clothes. While in New York, he became a Master Tailor especially in making men suites and sewing and repair clothing. He returned to Courtland, Virginia circa 1910 and open the only Pressing and Cleaning Shop in Southampton County. His shop was locate in a building 
on main street downtown Courtland (the picture on the left). Do to racism and politics, he was forced to move his shop and relocatd next to his home on Sedley Road (the picture on the right). The exact location is on the right hand side of Sedley Road and Bride Street as soon as you cross the railroad tracks. His business was very successful and he had a long standing contract with the County Sheriff Department. After, his death on March 17, 1959, his eldest son, Alphonso Ferdinand Darden continue to run the business for several years.  
From all accounts, John Napoleon Darden was a very colorful individual: he could play several musical instruments, including a ukulele, he was a great sketch artist and had a one-of-a-kind personality. He was married to Victoria Hargrave circa January 1912 after helping her escape from her father's family. Together they had eleven childern. It is worth noting that data points on Victoria Hargrave go back eleven generations removed:
John Cornelius Hickey (1707 - 1784)
father of
Michael Bannister Hickey (1775 - 1825)
father of
Jane (Susan) Hickey (1807 - 1842)
mother of
Susana M. Brown (1832 - 1904)
wife of
Rufus Burton Brown (1819 - 1865)
father of
William Brown (1845 - 1886)
father of
Emma Brown (1850 - 1886)
mother of
Clara Hargave (1875 - 1902)
mother of
Victoria Hargrave (1894 - 1962)
JOHN NAPOLEON & VICTORIA HARGRAVE-DARDEN FAMILY PHOTO SHOP ALPHONSO FERDINAND DARDEN
NOV 24, 1912 - DEC 9, 1962
Husband of Hattie Dailey | CATHERINE DARDEN-JOHNSON
APR 20, 1914 - MAY 7, 1979
Wife of Johnny Johnson | VIVIAN VICTORIA DARDEN DAYE VINSON
OCT 15, 1915 - JAN 29, 1987
Wife of Leondas Vinson | JOHN HENRY DARDEN
JUL 10,1917 - JUN 22, 1984
Husband of Francis Worell | HORACE DUBOIS DARDEN
MAY 25, 1918 - DEC 10, 1980
Husband of Sadie Catherine Bailey | GRACE VERNON DARDEN
DEC 26, 1920 - APR 17, 2003
Wife of Joseph Bryant | HIAWATHA DARDEN
MAY 12, 1922 - JUN 25, 1999
Husband of Queen E. Parham | KELLY MILLER DARDEN
AUG 25, 1924 - AUG 3, 2003
Husband of Nessa Faltz | BERNARD GEORGE DARDEN
JUL 25, 1926 - SEP 8, 1998
Husband of Cora Bell Claud | ALVIN RUSSELL DARDEN
SEPT 24, 1931 JUN 1, 1997
Husband of Hazel Walker | MABLE ELIZABETH DARDEN HUNT JEFFERSON
SEPT 30, 1931
Wife of Jacob B. Jefferson | NAME
NAME |
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