USA > Virginia > Rockingham County > Rockingham County > A history of Rockingham County, Virginia > Part 17
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Log House in Center, First Postoffice in Rockingham (Page 212)
Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters at Elkton. Blue Ridge Mountains in Background (Page 197)
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
(1)
Plains District (2) (3) Arkton
(4)
(5)
Roark
20
Oakwood
Oakwood
20
Dogtown
Athlone
40
Tenth Legion
Tenth Legion 30
Cowans
Daphna
Mechanicsville
Honeyville
Bakers Mill
Bakers Mill
20
Fulks Run
50
1873
G. W. Fawley
Yankton Criders
Criders
20
1881
W. R. Crider
Dovesville
Dovesville
40
Mayland
30
Hupp
30
Holman
Tunis
20
Stonewall District.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Swift Run
Swift Run
25
Furnace
Furnace
50
Greenwood Millbank
Antelope
75
1877
W. H. Marshall
Inglewood
Inglewood
1873
C. W. Shepp
Yancey
Yancey
25
Almond
Almond
30
Montevideo
Montevideo
50
1873
C. M. Killian
Lynnwood Leroy Liola
(Grottoes)
Rainbow
20
Model
40
Island Ford
30
Beldor
50
1894
Roadside
30
Lewis
Lynnwood
70
1871
A. L. Wagner
1872 S.B. McCommon
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Fulks Run
A HISTORY OF
In addition to the foregoing, the following notes may be of interest.
In 1840 Nicholas' Tavern was a well known place in East. Rockingham.
In 1842 there was a place, evidently in Rockingham, called Libertyville.
In 1863 Burke's Mill was a postoffice in Rockingham.
In 1870 a postoffice was established at Mt. Vernon Forge, D. F. Haynes, P. M.
In 1873 a postoffice was established at Belton, Rocking- ham County.
The postoffice at Melrose was re-established in 1873.
In 1879 there was a place in northwest Rockingham called "Yankeetown."
In 1890 Mt. Hermon P. O. was established, with J. M. Lam postmaster.
In 1891 Amberly P. O. was established, with J. W. Tate postmaster.
In 1893 a postoffice was established at Bear Lithia, J. T. Taylor, P. M.12
13. In addition to those already named, Mrs. Thos. Kille of Harrison- burg, Mr. J. A. Garber of Timberville, Miss?Paulina" Winfield of Broad- way, and Mr. J. R. Shipman of Bridgewater have given aid on this chap- ter, and to them grateful acknowledgement is made.
CHAPTER XII. ROADS AND RAILROADS.
Nothing is of more importance in the economic history of any county or country than the development of facilities for travel, transportation, and communication. In this chap- ter an attempt is made to chronicle some of the more impor- tant steps in the building and supervision of roads and rail- roads in Rockingham County, together with certain particulars regarding telegraphs and telephones.
In February, 1744, Peter Scholl and others living on Smith's Creek petitioned the court (of Augusta County) for a road. They said they had to work on a road 30 miles dis- tant from their plantations. This sounds as if there were no legally established roads in this part of the Valley at that time. A year later James Patton and John Buchanan re- ported that they had viewed a way from the Frederick County line, and the court ordered it established as a public road. 1 Whether this road was east or west of the Massa- nutten Mountain cannot, perhaps, be determined, but it must in either case have been much nearer than 30 miles to Smith's Creek.
In 1753 when the Moravian Brethren came up the Valley with a wagon there were some passable roads west of the Massanutten, along by the places where New Market, Lacey Springs, and Harrisonburg now are; but these roads were not in good order. It is possible that the main thoroughfare at this time and for some years afterward passed, not by Harrisonburg, but by Keezletown. There is an old ford across Middle River, about four miles above Port Republic, known as Pennsylvania Ford. This seems to indicate that travelers and immigrants from Pennsylvania crossed at that
1. Waddell's Annals of Augusta, pp. 47, 48.
A HISTORY OF
point; and it may be that this ford was on the main road up the Valley in very early times.
Bishop L. J. Heatwole tells me that there was a very old trail from the Old Fields, in Hardy County, W. Va., to Wil- liamsburg, that came through Brock's Gap, past Joe's Spring at Singer's Glen, past Greenmount, and past the Big Spring at Harrisonburg, and so on across the Valley just above the Peaked Mountain, crossing the Blue Ridge by Brown's Gap.2 In March, 1910, or thereabout, Mr. Heatwole contributed an interesting article to the Harrisonburg Daily News on the first postoffice in Rockingham County, in which he made reference to this old trail. The postoffice, which was likely such only by common agreement of residents, messengers, and travelers, was at the Liskey farm, a mile and a half northwest of Harrisonburg, probably in the old log house still standing over the spring. It stood by or near the old Wil- liamsburg trail.
At a court held for Rockingham County on Tuesday, May 26, 1778, and continued from the preceding day, the fol- lowing road overseers were appointed:
Henry Lung of the road "from the big hill to the Line of Shanandoe County";
George Huffman of the road "from the big hill to Henry Millers";
Henry Miller of the road ""from his own house to the Top of the Mountain over Swift Run Gap";
Paul Ingle of the road "from the fork of the road lead- ing to Swift Run Gap to Casper Haines Shop";
Casper Haines of the road "from his Shop to the main road leading from Staunton to Winchester";
Stephen Conrad of the road "in the room of Frederick Haines";
2. Brown's Gap was formerly known as Madison's Gap. The stream flowing out of it is still called Madison Run. The Madisons, it will be re -- called, lived just above Port Republic.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
John Frazier of the road "from the Augusta Line to John Stephensons run";
Jacob Perkie of the road "from Stephensons run to John Keplingers place formerly Samples";
David Harnett of the road "from John Keplingers form- erly Samples to Zeb Harrisons ford on Smiths Creek";
John Philips of the road "from Zebulon Harrisons ford to the Line of Shanandoe";
Jacob Woodley of the road "from the ford on this side of Sebastian Marts to Reuben Harrisons";
Jeremiah Harrison of the road "from Reuben Harrisons to Danl. Smiths Gent.";
Jeremiah Reagan of the road "from Danl. Smiths to the run that comes from Geo. Seawrights field";
Joseph Dictam of the road "from the run that comes from Geo. Seawrights field to the line of Augusta";
John Pence of the road "from the ford of the river at Gabl. Jones's to Felix Gilbert's";
Robt. Elliot of the road "from Felix Gilberts to Danl. Smiths house";
Joseph Lear of the road "from Danl. Smiths to the ford of Linvells Creek at Thos. Brian's";
Marten Gum of the road "from the ford of Linvells Creek at Thoms. Bryans to the fork of the Road on this Side of Jno. Thomas's mill";
John Ruddell of the road "from Chas. Daillys Ford to the upper Ford of Michael Baker";
Paul Gustard of the road "from Michael Bakers upper ford to the County Line on Cacapon";
Marten Witsel of the road "from the fork of the Cacapon road to the top of the mountain by Weatherholts";
John Bear of the road "from Daillys ford down the River to the Line of Shanandoe County";
Andrew Andes of the road "from Chas. Daillys ford under the No. Mountain to the line of Shanandoe";
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A HISTORY OF
Rees Thomas of the road "from Daillys ford to Thos. Gordons";
Thomas Fulton of the road "from Thos. Gordons to the Line of Augusta";
Thomas Bowen of the road "from the fork of the road above Thomas's Mill to the Pine Tree between Francis Greens & Thos. Campbells";
John Herdman of the road "from the sd. pine tree to Harrisons Mill pond";
William Herring of the road "from Harrison's Mill pond to the forks of the road below Jno. Fowlers";
Gawin Hamilton of the road "from Rices Cabin in dry river Gap to Benj. Harrisons."
In each case above it was provided that "the usual tith- ables work thereon." The minutes of subsequent courts show that numerous changes were made from time to time in the personnel of the road masters.
At a court held November 24, 1778, "On the petition of Sundry Inhabitants in the forest for turning the road leading from .Brocks Gap to Massenutting, Ordered that Maths. Reader, Jno. More & Nicolas Cairn do view the Conveniencies & Inconveniencies attending turning the road as prayed by the petitioners & report the same."
March 23, 1779.
Benj. Harrison, Joseph Dictam, Danl. Smith, and Jere- miah Reagen were appointed to view a road from Danl. Smith's plantation to James Magill's ford on the North River, and report pro and con on the same.
Christopher Our was appointed overseer of the road from Danl. Smith's to the dry fork in place of Jeremiah Harrison.
William Chesnut was appointed overseer of the road from Thos. Gordon's to Dry River, the tithables within 3 miles of the said road to work thereon.
G. Hamilton and Jno. Rice were appointed to view the Brock's Gap Road that crosses Dry River and make report.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
Saml. Skidmore was appointed overseer of the road from Hampshire Line to Joseph Skidmore's.
April 27, 1779.
On favorable report of viewers previously appointed, the court ordered a road opened from Danl. Smith's to the ford of the North River, by James McGill's; Richd. Reagan was ap- pointed overseer of the same from Smith's to where the new road would cross the Butler Road; Nehemiah Harrison, from the Butler Road to Coll. Benja. Harrison's; William McGill, from Harrison's to the ford of the river: all the tithables within 3 miles to work on their respective portions.
May 25, 1779.
James McVey was appointed overseer of the road from Archd. Hopkins' mill3 to Nehemiah Harrison's.
November 23, 1779.
Robt. Rutherford, Michl. Warren, and James Reagan were appointed to view and mark the nearest and best ground for a road from mill at the plains to the courthouse at Thos. Har- rison's.
Joseph Dictam, Ezekiel Harrison, and John Huston were appointed to view and mark the nearest and best ground for a road from the courthouse to George Huston's.
Nehemiah Harrison, John Rice, and Gawen Hamilton were appointed to view and mark roads from Briary Branch Gap and Dry River Gap to the courthouse.
Joseph Smith was made overseer of the road from Benj. Harrison's to Gawen Hamilton's, and John Rice of the road from Gawen Hamilton's to the feeding trough in the moun- tain. .
March 27, 1780.
Archbd. Hopkins, John Hopkins, and John Harrison were appointed to view the route for a road petitioned for from Hopkins' Mill to the courthouse.
3. This mill was likely the one on Muddy Creek, at Chrisman, now oper- ated by H. L. Burtner.
-215-
A HISTORY OF
March 28, 1780.
Ab. Hankle, George Teter, and Robt. Minnis were ap- pointed to view and mark a road from the Augusta line to the line of Hampshire, down the No. Fork.
Jo. Dictam, Saml. Hemphill, and William Cravens were appointed to view and mark a road from Ezekiel Harrison's to the Walnut Bottom-"the nearest and best Way."
April 24, 1780.
William Campbell was made overseer of the Rockfish road, from James Bairet's to Jacob Whitmore's, the tithables within two miles on each side of the road to work thereon.
It was ordered that the tithables within four miles on each side of the road from the run at Robt. Rutherford's to the Plains Mill work under Ezekiel Harrison, overseer thereof.
Aug. 29, 1780.
Upon report of the viewers, it was ordered that the roads from Briery Branch and Dry River gaps be opened. Joseph Hinton was appointed overseer from the Briery Branch road in Collo. Smith's land to where it crosses the first fork of the Mole Hill draught; Alex. Miller, Jr., from the said fork to the courthouse.
March 26, 1781.
John Hopkens, Jesse Harrison [?], and Rees Thomas were appointed to view a road from Geo. Baxters, leading to Brock's Gap, to the lower end of Josiah Davison's land.
May 28, 1781.
On its being represented to the Court that the Court of hampshire have order'd persons to view the Ground from Leonard Stumps to the deviding Line between that County & this for a Road to lead from the Courtho of sd County to the Seat of Government, & praying this Court to appoint viewers from this County Line to the foot of the Mountain on this Side in order to effect such a necessary Design, it is ordered that Jno Fitzwater Conrod Humble Martin Witsell & Henry Witsell or any three of them being first sworn do view the Ground from the County Line to the foot of the Mountain leading to the head waters of Cacapon or the Gap Waters as the Ground will best Suit and report the Conveniences
-216-
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
& Inconveniences attending the making of the sd Road & in particular what Labour & Expense may attend the Digging bridging &c of the same.
August 27, 1781.
On the petition of the Inhabitants of Brocks that a convenient Road may be opened to the Courtho O that John Thomas Rees Thomas Peter Hog & George Spiers or any three being first sworn do view the nearest & best Way from the Gap to the road at Michl. Warens.
November 27, 1781.
Capt. James Magill was appointed overseer of the road from Capt. Ben. Harrison's to the county line, "leading to the Iron Works."
O that the Tiths. from the picked Mountain on one side & two miles on the other side of the road work under Jacob Woodly overseer of the road from the forks to the big Spring.
April 1, 1782.
Ordered that Nicholas Karn be appointed overseer of the road in the room of Ezekiel Harrison "from the Plain Mills to opposite Val. Seveyors old House in the Long Meadow includ- ing the Branch or Creek."
May 28, 1782.
It was ordered that Felix Gilbert, John Harrison, and Henry Ewin, being first sworn, should view "the Nearest and Best Way from the Courthouse [to] The ford of Cub run By Wm. Young and Mark ye Same and Make Return of their proceedings To Next Crt."
May 27, 1783.
Robt. Dunlap was appointed overseer of the road in place of Henry Ewin, the tithables "This Side of Gap Road" to work thereon "As far as a Crooked Locust where Blain's Road Crosses the sd. Road"; and David Bery was appointed over- seer from Hopkins' Mill to the said locust on the said road.
James Devier was appointed overseer to open the road from Harrisonburg "To Where the sd. Road Will fall Into the path Crossing the big Hill and That all Tithables within three
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A HISTORY OF
miles on each side Work thereon"; and Felix Gilbert was made overseer from Cub Run to the said place on the hill.
In June, 1784, a petition was presented to the court by sundry inhabitants of the county for a road from the county line, by Plain Mills, to Harrisonburg. Brewer Reeves, Ezekiel Harrison, Jeremiah Ragan, and Robert Rutherford, or any three of them, were appointed to view the proposed road and make report. At the next court, July 26, Reeves, Harrison, and Ragan reported that they had laid off the road as follows:
Beginning at the county line, running thence near by George Ruddel's, thence near to John Moor's, thence crossing the river opposite Moor's house, thence to Michael Holsinger's, thence into the former road near John Reeves's, it was to continue thence with the said former road to Harrisonburg. Nicolas Carn was appointed overseer of the new road from the county line to Carn's (or Carr's) Spring. Jacob Lincoln was to be overseer from the said spring to Michael Warrin's, and Benj. Smith from Warrin's to Harrisonburg.
At the August court, 1784, Joseph Dictum, William Fow- ler, and George Snodding reported that they had laid off a road from Harrisonburg to the line of Augusta, toward Staunton, as follows:
Keeping the old [road] past Edwd. Shanklins and from thence Cross- ing the North River below Fowlers Still house from thence past Hugh Campbell and past the three Springs leads to a place called the read Banks near the County line.
In an old almanac, for the year 1788, published at Phila- delphia or Baltimore, is found the following table of dis- tances on the road from Philadelphia to the Falls of the Ohio:
Martinsburg
to
Winchester 20 miles »
to
Newtown 8
to
Stover's town 10 66
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
to
Woodstock
12 miles
to
66
Shanandoah river 15 to
North branch
29
“‘
to
Stanton
15
to
North fork J. riv. 15 to
James river
18
to
Botetort C. H.
12
[&c.]
A corresponding table of distances, from Winchester to the Falls of the Ohio, is found in "The Virginia and Farm- er's Almanac" for 1792, printed and published at Winchester by Richard Bowen. The name "Stephensburg" appears in Bowen's table in place of "Newtown." Bowen styles him- self "The North Mountain Philosopher."
In Benjamin Banneker's Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary- land, and Virginia Almanac for 1794, printed at Baltimore, is a table of places and distances on the road from Baltimore to Knoxville, containing the following:
Harper's Ferry to Charles-Town 12
to Stone's Tavern 10
to Winchester 11
to New-Town 8
to Stover's-Town 10
to Woodstock 12
to Newmarket 8 [18?]
to Harnet's 15
to Keesletown 5 to Ten-Mile Stage 15
to Staunton 10
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A HISTORY OF
to Miller's 12
to Steel's Mill 64
It will be observed that the route indicated in the table just above goes east of Harrisonburg, past Keezletown, to Staunton and places further on. "Harnet" was probably David Harnet, who is frequently mentioned in the old records of the county. Evidently he lived two or three miles east or northeast of Harrisonburg.
As early as 1789 an Act of Assembly was passed for re- pairing the Swift Run Gap road. In 1809-10 an Act was passed to incorporate it.
The late Capt. J. S. Harnsberger informed me that one of the first roads built into Rockingham County came down from Staunton to Port Republic, and passed thence on the east side of the river down to Swift Run Gap.
Mr. Geo. F. Compton, in his chapters on the early history of Rockingham, says:
From 1790 to 1800 about $3,000 was appropriated to putting the Swift Run Gap Road in order, and this was at that time the main road of the county.
The road to which Mr. Compton refers was doubtless the one going eastward from Harrisonburg, through Swift Run Gap.
A map of the Waterman lands, made in 1795 (and amended in 1811) shows an old "Road from Frankline to Winchester." It came across the Shenandoah Mountain between Tomahawk Mountain and Brush Ridge, and, after coming on eastward to or toward Little North Mountain, went down on the west side of Little North Mountain, through or past Brock's Gap. 5
4. I am indebted to the kindness of Hon. Geo. N. Conrad, of Harris- burg, for the loan of the above almanacs.
5. At the time referred to Dr. Asher Waterman of Harrisonburg
* owned 93,000 acres in what is now West Rockingham and Pendleton. I was allowed to examine the old map above mentioned through the kind- ness of Mr. A. G. Waterman, of New York, and Mr. Ed. C. Martz of Harrisonburg.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
In the Rockingham Register of October 5, 1876, I find a statement that in 1826, and thereabouts, the Keezletown Road was the principal thoroughfare of this part of the Valley.
In 1827-8 and in 1836-7 Acts were passed by the Assembly authorizing the Rockingham County court to make contracts for repairing the Dry River Gap road.
In 1829-30 an Act was passed to incorporate the Warm Springs and Harrisonburg Turnpike Company; the next year the Harrisonburg and Thornton's Gap Turnpike Company was incorporated; and in 1832-3 the powers of the court were enlarged for the purpose of opening roads from Harrison- burg to Charlottesville.
In March, 1834, an Act was passed providing for the con- struction of a road from Skidmore's Fork, in Rockingham, to South Fork, in Pendleton.
In the same month and year the Act was passed author- izing the construction of the Valley Turnpike, from Winches- ter to Harrisonburg; and about two years later another Act was passed granting a charter for the Harrisonburg and Staunton Turnpike. These two roads, which soon became one, have since become celebrated, and for two or three gen- erations have constituted the main highway of the Valley. Trotter's stages, Jackson's Foot Cavalry, and Miss Mary Johnston's "Long Roll," as well as the pathfinders of the national automobile highway, have found it good and have left it more famous. 6
In 1849 an Act of Assembly authorized the spending of a sum of money, not to exceed $333, for the purpose of fin- ishing and improving the mountain part of the road from Harrisonburg, through Brock's Gap, to Moorefield.
In 1850 the Rockingham Turnpike Company was author- ized to build a macadamized road from some point at or near Stanardsville, via Swift Run Gap, to some point on the Valley Turnpike. The point chosen was Harrisonburg, and
6. For more particulars concerning this road see Wayland's "German Element," pp. 209-212.
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A HISTORY OF
the road has been an important highway across the eastern part of the Valley ever since. It has been out of private control for a number of years.
In March, 1851, the Harrisonburg and Franklin Turnpike Company was incorporated.
January 15, 1867, an act was passed authorizing the Warm Springs and Harrisonburg Turnpike Company to charge a toll of three cents on all persons walking over the bridge at Bridgewater. The writer well remembers the first infor- mation he had of this provision. It was received about nineteen years ago, this month or next, shortly after he had become a citizen of Rockingham and a resident of Bridge- water. But he has a shrewd suspicion that some of the older residents of the town have not known of it until this day.
In the Rockingham Register of January 9, 1868, the fol- lowing notice appeared concerning the stage lines on the Valley Pike:
The old and well-known stage line of Trotter & Bro., in the Shenan- doah Valley, is now making its regular trips between Staunton and Winchester, twice daily, (Sundays excepted). the stages leave Staunton and Winchester in the morning as well as in the evening. . . . Jos. Andrews, Agt.
Trotter & Bro. co-operated at Staunton with Col. M. G. Harman, who was also a famous master of travel.
In February, 1868, it was announced that Trotter & Co.'s daylight line between Staunton and Winchester had been taken off, owing to a decrease in travel; and that the night line had been quickened. In 1870, after the railroad had come in from Strasburg to Harrisonburg, the Trotters were still operating their stages as connecting links between Staunton and Harrisonburg, at one end, and between Stras- burg and Winchester, at the other.
In March, 1868, the editor of the Register, evidently having in prospect the completion of the railroad to Harrison- burg, advocated a wagon road from Harrisonburg to Frank- lin. He says:
We once had a charter for a road from this place to Franklin, but
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
through the neglect of those interested and squabbles about routes, the whole thing went down, and we are yet without this necessary and important highway.
At the June court, following, Peter Paul was appointed to confer with the authorities of Pendleton regarding the repairs of a road leading across the Shenandoah Mountain, into Pendleton, and to make report. From time to time the road between the two county-seats (Harrisonburg and Frank- lin) has been improved, and Harrisonburg has been the chief depot on the railroad for the citizens of Pendleton for many years. About 1907 the road across the mountain, for a distance of four miles,-from Dry River to the top of the Shenandoah Mountain, -was made better than ever before. Joseph G. Myers was surveyor, Hoover & Andes were the contractors. The road from bottom to top was put on a grade of 32 degrees; the old road at some points had a grade of 9 degrees.
Attention has already been called to the fact, in Chapter VIII, that the great material revival in Rockingham in the half dozen or more years following 1865 consisted in large measure in the building of roads-opening new ones and im- proving old ones. Generally, this road-making may be ac- counted for as part and parcel of economic reconstruction; particularly, it is explained by the completion of the railroad to Harrisonburg in the winter of 1868-9. The coming of the railroad stimulated the building and improving of wagon roads.
In September, 1868, a new road from Port Republic to Harrisonburg was surveyed by Harnsberger & Kemper, who thus reduced the distance to 10} miles, -1} miles less than by any old road. An incident of the enterprise was the send- ing up of rockets one night at Harrisonburg, to enable the engineers to get the exact bearings of the course. But let no one innocently suppose that this road was or is straight. The Valley Pike, the Keezletown Road, the Middle Road (pass- ing Linville, Timberville, etc.), and other roads that run up and down the Valley, parallel with the ranges of mountains
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A HISTORY OF
and the ridges of hills, follow courses generally direct, and are quite straight for considerable stretches; but the roads that cross the Valley, either at right angles or obliquely, are not straight, and cannot easily be made so.
In July, 1869, Bonds & Mauzy began to advertise a new stage line, running from Harrisonburg to Shenandoah Iron Works on a tri-weekly schedule. This line was opened largely as a result, no doubt, of the completion of the railroad to Harrisonburg.
January 22, 1870, the Harrisonburg and Rawley Springs Turnpike Company organized, making Wm. H. Hamrick presi- dent, and David A. Heatwole secretary and treasurer. The directors were Abram Andes, Reuben Swope, Hugh Swope, John Brunk, and Maj. Thos. Shumate. The same day a road meeting was held at Mt. Clinton, looking toward the con- struction of a turnpike. The pike now connecting Mt. Clin- ton with Harrisonburg is a much-used road.
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