USA > Virginia > Highland County > Highland County > A history of Highland County, Virginia > Part 34
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COUNTY LEVY
COUNTY PURPOSES
SCHOOLS
ROADS
Bluegrass
$1,044.48
$261.12
$522.24
Monterey
1,167.60
291.90
583.80
Stonewall.
863.60
215.90
431.80
Total
$3,075.68
$768.92
$1,537.84
Colored Tax . . . .
17.12
4.28
8.56
Grand Total.
$3,092.80
$773.20
$1,546.40
Total for County
$5,412.40
Sinking Fund
$386.60
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History of Highland County
DISTRICT LEVIES
SCHOOLS
TEACHERS, ETC.
Bluegrass
$391.68
$261.12
Monterey.
291.90
583.80
Stonewall.
431.80
215.90
Colored Levy
7.41
5.24
Total
$1,122.79
$1,066.06
PERSONAL PROPERTY
WHITE
COLORED
Bluegrass
$202,366
40
Monterey
146,949
561
Stonewall.
142,542
2,911
Total
$491,857
$3,512
Grand Total
$495,369
Total of Real Estate and Personal Property, $1,925,838.94.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
NUMBER
VALUE
Horses and Mules.
2,369
$121,875
Cattle.
9,892
171,031
Sheep
15,920
51,528
Goats.
221
477
Hogs.
2,716
5,774
Total
31,118
$350,685
NEGROES
The negroes of Highland own 5 acres of land in Monterey District and 1009 acres in Stonewall, assessed at $2,814.97.
F
ACT OF ASSEMBLY ESTABLISHING HIGHLAND MARCH 19, 1847
1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, That so much of the counties of Pendleton and Bath as is included within the follow- ing boundary lines, to wit: Beginning where the North River gap road crosses the Augusta county line, and running thence to the top of Jackson's moun- tain so as to leave Jacob Hiner's mansion house in Pendleton county; thence
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History of Highland County
to Andrew Fleisher's, so as to include his mansion house in the new county; thence to the highlands between the Dry run and Crab bottom, and thence along the top of the main ridge of said highlands, to the top of the High Knob; thence north 65 degrees west to Pocahontas county line; thence along said county line to the Plum orchard on the top of the Alleghany mountain; thence to Adam Stephenson's mansion house on Jackson's river in Bath county, so as to include Thomas Campbell's mansion house on Back creek, and also said Adam Stephenson's in the new county; thence to Andrew H. Byrd's mansion house on the Cowpasturc river, so as to include the same in the new county, and so as to leave the dwelling-house of William McClintick, Jr., in Bath County; thence south 65 degrees east to the Augusta county line, and thence with said line to the beginning, shall form one district and one county, which shall be known and called by the name of Highland county.
2. The governor shall commission as justices of the peace for the said new county all of the justices of the peace now in commission in the counties of Pendleton and Bath respectively, whose dwelling-houses shall be included within the limits of the said new county of Highland after the commencement of this act, and they shall be commissioned in point of seniority, according to the dates of their present respective commissions, all of whom shall (before entering upon the discharge of the duties of said office) take before some justice of the peace of any other county in the commonwealth, than the said new one, the several oaths required to be taken by justices of the peace, and within the time prescribed by law in other cases of justices of the peace who have been commissioned. And the justice or justices who may admin- ister such oaths shall give a certificate or certificates thereof, to the party or parties who may take such oaths, which .certificate or certificates, shall be signed and sealed by the justice or justices who may administer the same, and shall be by the justice or justices taking the same, delivered to the clerk of the county court of Highland county, there to be preserved and recorded : Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent any justice of the peace now in commission for either of the counties of Pen- dleton or Bath, and residing within the bounds of the said new county, from exercising the duties of his office for and as to said counties of Pendleton and Bath respectively, until the organization of the said county of Highland, on the Thursday after the third Monday in May next, as hereinafter pre- scribed.
3. A court for said Highland county shall be held by the justices thereof on the Thursday after the third Monday in every month, upon the princi- ples prescribed by law for holding courts in other counties.
4. The permanent place for holding all courts for Highland county, shall be at Bell's place, on the Staunton and Parkersburg road. And the county court of Highland county shall procure a lot of not less than three acres of land at said place, to be conveyed to them and their successors in office in fee, for the use of said county forever, and shall erect thereon a court- house and such other necessary public buildings, as the convenience of the county may require, at the charge of said county, to be paid in the mode prescribed by law.
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History of Highland County
5. The justices of the peace commissioned and qualified as aforesaid for said Highland county, shall meet at the house in which John Cook now resides, on said Bell's place, on the Thursday after the third Monday in May next. The whole number of said justices commissioned and qual- ified as aforesaid having been previously summoned by the sheriff of Pendle- ton county to attend on that day, and it is hereby made the duty of the said sheriff so to summon them to attend, at least ten days before that time, under penalty of being fined a sum not less than fifty dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars, for the benefit of the Literary fund, recoverable as other fines imposed by law on sheriffs and their deputies. And two-thirds of the said justices being present (otherwise those who do attend, may adjourn from day to day or from time to time, until two-thirds shall be present,) shall proceed to appoint a clerk of the county court, a commissioner of the revenue, and a surveyor for said county; and also at the same time, or at some early day thereafter, the necessary number of school commissioners for said county. They shall also at the same time nominate to the governor suitable persons to be commissioned as sheriff and coroner for said county, and shall fix upon such place and house in said county as may seem to them most convenient for holding courts for said county, until the courthouse shall have been erected. The said justices shall cause all of the said appoint- ments, orders and proceedings as aforesaid, to be entered of record.
6. It shall be lawful for the sheriff or other collector of the counties of Pendleton or Bath to collect by distress or other lawful mode, any public dues and officers' fees which may remain unpaid by such of the inhabitants of either of the said counties as may be included within the bounds of the said county of Highland, and such sheriff or other collector shall be account- able for the same in like manner, and under the same fines, forfeitures, and penalties, as if this act had never passed.
7. The courts for Pendleton and Bath counties shall each have and retain jurisdiction of all actions and suits depending before them on the Thursday after the third Monday in May next, and shall try and determine the same, and award execution therein when necessary, except in cases in which both parties reside in the new county; which last mentioned cases (together with the papers thereto belonging) shall, after that day, be removed to the courts for the county of Highland, and there tried and determined as other cases.
8. Highland county shall be in and attached to the same judicial cir- cuit with Bath county, and the circuit superior court of law and chancery shall be held on the eighth day of May and the ninth day of October in every year; and Highland county shall be in the same militia brigade district with Pendleton county, and shall be in the same congressional district, the same senatorial district and the same electoral district (for choosing electors for president and vice-president of the United States) with Bath county.
9. The courts of quarterly sessions for said Highland county shall be held in the months of March, May, August, and October in every year.
10. The boundary lines of said county shall be run and marked in the
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History of Highland County
manner prescribed by the act passed on the eleventh day of February in the year 1845, entitled "an act for making more effectual provision for running and marking the boundaries of new counties."
11. The treasurer of the school commissioners of each of the countics of Pendleton and Bath, shall be and he is hereby authorized and required to pay to the treasurer of the school commissioners of Highland county, upon the order of the school commissioners of said county, out of the fixed and surplus quotas of the school fund of the said counties of Pendleton and Bath respectively, for the present fiscal year, such sum as seems to them to be in due proportion to the population of the said Highland county, taken from Pendleton and Bath counties respectively, including also any balance remain- ing unexpended on the first day of June next, as also of the due proportion as aforesaid, accruing from such quotas to which Pendleton and Bath coun- ties, or either of them, may be entitled for any former year. And it shall be the duty of the second auditor to reapportion the fiscal and surplus school quotas of the counties of Pendleton and Bath for the next fiscal year and all future years between Pendleton, Bath, and Highland counties, agreeably to their respective numbers of white tithables which may be returned therein by the commissioners of the revenue for the year 1847.
12. So much of the county of Highland as now forms part of Pendleton county, and the county of Pendleton, shall together send one delegate to the house of delegates in the general assembly of Virginia, until a reappor- tionment of representation shall take place, and so much of Highland county as now forms a part of Bath county, and Bath County, shall together send one delegate to the house of delegates of Virginia until a reapportionment of representation shall take place. It shall be the duty of the county court of Highland county, at the first term, or as soon as convenient, to appoint as many persons as may be deemed necessary to perform the duties of sheriff at the several places of holding separate elections in said Highland county, and who shall attend at the courthouses of Pendleton and Bath, to compare the polls and perform other duties required by law of sheriffs in similar cases, and who shall be subject to the same penalties for failure or refusal to do the same; and they shall also appoint superintendents of election required for the polls to be taken at the courthouse and other places of voting in said county. The persons hereby required to be appointed to attend and compare the polls, shall take with them fair copies of all the original polls taken in Highland county.
13. This act shall be in force from and after the first day of May next.
G BOUNDARY SURVEY OF 1848
ORIGINAL REPORT found in the papers of Thomas Campbell deceased, and delivered by Austin W. Campbell to Charles P. Jones on the 31st of Jan- uary, 1877:
400
History of Highland County
"In pursuance of an act of assembly passed the 19th day of March 1847 establishing the County of Highland out of parts of the Counties of Bath & Pendleton, we the undersigned surveyors of said Counties, and as such Commissioners agreeably to an act of assembly passed the 11th day of Feb- ruary 1845 to run and establish the lines of said County of Highland, pro- ceeded to run the same as follows (to wit) Beginning at three chestnut oaks and a white oak on the top of Shenandoah mountain where the North river gap road crosses the Augusta County line, thence N. 71 W. 446 poles to the Brushy fork, a branch of the South fork, continued 258 poles to the top of Shaw's ridge, continued 336 poles to the South fork, continued 560 poles through the lands of John Bodkin below his dwelling house to the top of Bull pasture mountain, continued 480 & passing through the land of Joseph Hiner & through his barn to Jacob Hiner's mansion house leaving the same in Pendleton County, continued 38 poles to the Blackthorn, con- tinued 296 poles to the top of the Brushy ridge, continued 54 poles to Doe Hill road, continued 493 poles to a point opposite a large white rock five poles from said rock and leaving it in Highland County, continued 66 poles to four pines and a chestnut oak (all small) on the top of Jackson's mountain at the south end of a large ledge of rocks, the whole distance on this course is 3027 poles, thence N. 25 W. 844 poles to the South branch of Potomac, continued and crossing the same 76 poles to a yellow willow tree near Andrew Fleisher's mansion house including said house in Highland County, con- tinued 540 poles to the first top of Backbone mountain, continued 176 poles to the main top of said mountain, continued 44 poles and passing over a large ledge of rocks to four chestnut oaks and a chestnut on the highlands between Dry run and Crab-bottom, the whole distance on this course is 1680 poles, thence along the main ridge of said Highlands N. 37 W. 104 poles to a chestnut, N. 18 W. 72 poles passing near George Wimer's barn and house leaving the same in Pendleton County, N. 78 W. 35 poles N. 30 W. 10 poles, N. 54 W. 68 poles to a sugar tree, N. 28 W. 53 poles, N. 7 E. 28 poles N. 49 W. 48 poles, N. 63 W. 17 poles, N. 30 W. 220 poles, along said ridge to three red oaks, a cherry tree and white thorn on top of the high knob, thence S. 65 W. 436 poles to a large ledge of rocks on the top of Buzzard's knob con- tinued 230 poles to the Straight fork near the upper end of Leoanard Har- per's land, continued and crossing said fork and over the end of the Middle mountain 494 poles to the Laurel fork continued 992 poles up the Alleghany mt. near Colaw's camp to eight hemlocks and three small beeches and a small maple on the top of Alleghany mountain in the Pocahontas county line, the whole distance on this course is 2152 poles, thence along the main top of said mountain with said county line, to the plum orchard we here marked one plum tree on the top of said mountain, thence S. 60 E. 722 poles through the lower end of Thomas Campbell's land to Back creek, continued and crossing said creek 149 poles to the top of the little mountain continued 325 poles to the top of Back creek mountain, continued 204 poles crossing the head of Stony run to the top of the Piney mountain at the south end of a large ledge of rocks, continued 465 poles to a point opposite Adam Steph-
401
History of Highland County
enson's mansion house including it in Highland county, whole distance on this course is 1857 poles; thence S. 79 E. 80 poles to Jackson's river, continucd and crossing the same 365 poles to Wilson's mill run continued and crossing said run. 139 poles to the head of a large warm spring near James Brown's dwelling house, continued 82 poles to the wagon road below Robert Gwin's dwelling housc leaving it in Bath County, continued 282 poles to the top of Jackson's mountain by a large ledge of rocks passing through the same in a small aperture, continued 240 poles to the mountain road below the forks of the same, continued 252 poles to the road leading from the Bull- pasturc to the Warm Springs, continued 198 poles to the top of the Chestnut ridge, continued 228 poles to the White oak draft continued 180 poles to John Marshall's dwelling house leaving it in Bath County continued 286 poles to the Bull-pasture river above Williamsville, continued 106 poles to the Cow-pasture road continued 56 poles to a point opposite Andrew H. Byrd's house (the course and distance from the south east corner of said house to this point is S. 31} W. 13 poles) the whole distance on this course is 2494 poles, thence S. 65 E. 132 poles to the Cow-pasture river, continued and crossing the same & crossing several ridges and hollows 818 poles to six chestnut oaks two red oaks and two hickory saplings on the top of the Shen- andoah mountain, whole distance on this course is 950 poles, thence along the main top of said mountain with the Augusta County line to the begin- ning, containing 390 square miles.
Note: We marked the corner trees with four chops and the lines fore and aft three chops on the west side.
Nov. 1st 1847.
THOS. CAMPBELL S. H. C. WM. McCLINTIC JR. S. B. C. JACOB F. JOHNSON S. P. C.
Note 2nd. The course and distance on a right line from the eight hem- locks, three small beeches and a small maple on the top of Alleghany moun- tain to the plum orchard is S. 19 W. 7250 poles. And from the six chestnut oaks, two red oaks and two hickory saplings on the top of Shenandoah moun- tain, the course and distance on a right line to the beginning is N. 35 E. 5770 poles.
The tops of the Alleghany & the top of the Shenandoah mountains we did not run."
H
CHURCH LETTER OF WILLIAM WILSON OF BOLAR RUN
I hereby certify that William Wilson hath officiated as a Ruling Elder in this congregation for divers years to desireable satisfaction, was useful in his station, regular & exemplary in his ordinary conduct, & that his wife hath behaved in an offensive and christian manner, and at his departure, I heartily recommend him and his family to the kind protection of Devine
1
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History of Highland County
Providence, the conduct of Devine grace and a kind reception in Christian society, where in Providence his lot may be determined. given under my hand on the Forks of Brandy wine this 29th Sept. 1747 ADAM BOYD
Note. The word "offensive" in the above paper means "active" or "energetic." Words often undergo change in meaning from one age to another.
I
SURVEYS IN BATH COUNTY, 1744-46 *.
1744-Jackson's River
Moore, William - 176.
1745-Cowpasture
Cartmill, James - 300 - P. 1760.
Coffey, Hugh - 220 - P. 1750.
Dickinson, Adam - 1080 - P. 1750.
Donally, John - 277 - P. 1750.
Hughart, James - 590 - P. 1750.
Laverty, Ralph - 300 - P. 1750.
McCoy, James - 250.
Milroy, Alexander - 300 - P. 1750.
Stuart, James - 300 - P. 1750.
Waddell, Jamcs - 224 - P. 1750 by Ralph Laverty.
1746-Cowpasture
Abercrombie, Robert - 425.
Clendenin, Archibald - 195 and 130.
Crockett, Robert - 246 - P. 1750.
Dougharty, William - 285 - P. 1750.
Gillespie, William - 320 - P. 1760.
Hall, James - 212 - P. 1750.
Jackson, James - 340 - P. 1750.
Knox, James - 93.
Lewis, George - 430 - P. 1752.
Lewis, William - 390 - P. 1750.
Lewis, John - 950 - P. 1750 by Charles Lewis. Mayse, James - 415 (P. 1759) and 182 (P. 1761).
*Including the whole lower basin of Jackson's River and the Cowpasture. The figures im- mediately following a name refer to the acreage. The date of patent, when known, is then given. and is by the settler himself unless otherwise stated.
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History of Highland County
McCrcary, John - 520 - P. 1750.
Muldrough, Andrew - 130 - P. 1761.
Rainey, Michael - 216. Scott, James - 490 - P. 1750.
Simpson, James - 300.
Walker, John - 340. Wilson, Joseph - 200.
1746-Jackson's River
Carpenter, Joseph - 782 - P. 1750.
Crockett, Samuel - 283 - P. 1750.
Dickenson, Adam - 870 - P. 1750.
Dunlap, Arthur - 270.
Ewing, James - 254.
Jackson, William - 1100 - P. 1750.
Jamison, William - 280 - P. 1760.
Lewis, John - 304.
Lewis, Thomas - 489 - P. 1764 by Robert Bratton and Robert Laverty.
Mayse, James - 234.
Robinson, Wood, and Lewis: (1)
875.
(2) 196.
(3) 94.
1746-Back Creek
Lewis, Thomas - 560.
Robinson, Wood, and Lewis: (1) 304.
(2) 210.
(3) 150.
(4) 95.
J SCHOOL STATISTICS SCHOOLS IN 1832
BATH
PENDLETON
Commissioners.
10
15
Common Schools.
17
36
Indigent Pupils.
100
400
Indigent Pupils at School.
99
356
Days Attendance of Indigents.
3,901
14,298
Average Attendance of Indigents, cents.
.39
.40
Tuition, cents.
3}
Average Cost of Tuition per Indigent
$1.44
$1.45
Total Cost of Such Tuition
$142.50
$515.43
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History of Highland County
SCHOOLS IN 1879 (No Statistics for Colored Pupils are reported for this year.)
Enrollment, Total
574
Enrollment Average Monthly
464
Enrollment, Average Daily
359
Percentage of School Population Enrolled.
38
Average of Pupils per Teacher .
27
Average Age.
11
Number of Schools
17
Months Taught
4.94
Male Teachers
13
Female Teachers
4
Monthly Salary of Male Teachers
$21.54
Monthly Salary of Female Teachers .
16.75
SCHOOLS IN 1910
State School Appropriation
$4,260.32
County School Fund.
1,682.43
District School Funds.
2,361.36
Tuition
1,259.07
Other Sources
970.16
Total
$10,533.34
The above sum is higher than the average for the State. is stated at $12,736.63.
The actual total
EXPENDITURES-1910
Teachers
$ 7,631.97
Real Estate and Buildings.
2,154.79
Repairs.
133.20
Furniture.
195.30
Apparatus.
9.55
Fuel and Lights (at Monterey).
28.46
Commission to County Treasurer
366.60
District Clerks.
115.00
Division Superintendent
87.69
Trustees.
50.00
Sundry
187.12
Total
$10,959.68
History of Highland County
405
White Children
1,545
Colored Children
118
Total Enumeration
1,663
White Sehools.
41
Colored Sehools .
1
Average of Pupils per Teacher
27
Days all Sehools were in Session-White .
4,100
Days all Sehools were in Session-Colored.
80
Males Enrolled-White .
580
Females Enrolled-White
602
Males Enrolled-Colored.
10
Females Enrolled-Colored.
12
Total Enrollment .
1,204
Average Daily Attendance-White.
837
Average Daily Attendance-Colored.
20
Enrollment below Age of 10-White.
785
Enrollment below Age of 10-Colored
12
Enrollment above Age of 10-White.
397
Enrollment above Age of 10-Colored.
10
Average Age.
12
High School Enrollment
30
State High School Fund.
$400.00
Number Studying Higher Branches.
70
Teachers with Collegiate Certificate.
1
Teachers with First Grade Certificate
23
Teachers with Second Grade Certificate
4
Frame Sehoolhouses
48
Log Sehoolhouses.
1
Sehoolhouses with Suitable Grounds
43
Sehoolhouses with Inelosed Grounds.
43
Schoolhouses with Half-Acre or Less
36
Sehoolhouses with Patent Desks
28
K
POST OFFICES, PAST AND PRESENT
By an early Virginia Statute every county seat was entitled to a post- offiee. In 1820, the post offices in the Highland area were Hull's Store in the Crabbottom, Wilsonville at the mouth of Bolar Run, and Shaw's Ridge in the Cowpasture valley. The postage on letters to or from the state eapital was 1834 cents. By 1832, Crab Run had been established, later to be known as McDowell. The mails were very light and eame only onee a week. Postage might be paid at the receiving office, and on a letter from Kentucky the rate was 25 cents.
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History of Highland County
Ruckmansville (Mill Gap) was added to the list about this time. The carrier making a weekly trip from Warm Springs to Huntersville by way of Wilsonville and Ruckmansville, was paid $43.50 a quarter, in the form of drafts on the postmasters. While decending Back Creek Mountain on his way to Ruckmansville, he blew his horn to announce his approach.
By change of name and the progressive establishment of new offices, the list of Highland offices has assumed the following form and extent:
Bluegrass: Crabbottom, Meadowdale, Mill Gap, Naples, and Valley Center.
Monterey: Monterey, Pinckney, Trimble, and Vanderpool.
Stonewall: Clover Creek, Doe Hill, Headwaters, McDowell, Palo Alto, Patna, Poverty, and Vilna.
Nearly all offices have a daily mail. Two rural free delivery routes cover the Crabbottom and Straight Creek valleys. But owing to the dis- tance to railroad post offices, a response is a little slow in coming from much beyond the county confines.
In 1820, the present Bath area had but two offices, Bath Courthouse and Hot Springs. The "Back Alleghany" section, soon to become Pocahontas County had also but two; Traveler's Repose and Cackley's (now Academy).
Extinct offices are Buckeye (lower Back Creek), Hull (between High- town and Crabbottom), New Hampden, Straight Creek (at Forks of Waters). Waycross (at Cowpasture ford), Wier (in Crabbottom), and Wilsonville. Pinckney was at first called Stanley.
L BOND OF JAMES KNOX,
as Guardian of Ann Jean Usher, who afterward married Loftus Pullin. This is the first fiduciary bond recorded in Augusta County.
Know all men by these presents, that We, James Knox, John Brown, and Andrew Pickens, are held and firmly bound unto John Lewis, Gent., first Justice in Commission of the Peace for the County of Augusta, for and in Be- half and to the Sole use and behoof of the Justices of the said County, and their Successors in the sum of one hundred Pounds ($333.33) Current Money, to be Paid to the said John Lewis, his Exrs. admrs, and Assignees, to the which Payment well and truly to be made we bind our selves and Every of us, our and every of our heirs, Exrs, and Admrs, Jointly and severally firmly by these presents. Sealed with our Seals. Dated this 11th Day of Febr. 1745 .*
*Until after 1752 the legal year in England began March 25. The time between January 1 and March 25 was counted as belonging to the year prior to the true calendar year. The year above given would therefore properly be 1746. By the common usage of that day it would have been written February 11, 1745-'6. It is also to be remembered that the old style Gregorian calendar was in force in England until September, 1752. As it was then 11 days behind the true time, the date February 11 is properly February 22. And so with all other dates in this book prior to 1752.
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