USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, with reminiscences illustrative of the vicissitudes of its pioneer settlers (A Supplement) > Part 26
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In the spring of 1841, Alexander H. H. Stuart, of Augusta, was elected to the United States House of Representatives, over his competitor, James McDowell, of Rockbridge. The prelimi- nary canvass was noted for the ability and dignity with which it was conducted by the candidates. It is a little remarkable that only two citizens of Augusta-Jacob Swoope and Alexander H. H. Stuart-have ever sat in Congress, and they only for one
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term each, notwithstanding many eminent men have resided here from the earliest period in the history of the county.
At the session of the Legislature of 1841-'2, General B. G. Baldwin, of Staunton, was elected by the Legislature a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Mr. Peyton was at that time the State Senator from Augusta.
Staunton was from an early day the seat of a high school for the education of females, under a succession of teachers. In 1831 the widow and daughters of Daniel Sheffey opened a board- ing school for girls, at their residence, called Kalorama, and conducted it prosperously for many years. In 1842 the Presby- terians of the county founded the Augusta Female Seminary. Soon afterward, the Episcopalians founded the Virginia Female Institute, and the Methodists the Wesleyan Female Institute. Lastly, the Staunton Female Seminary was founded under the auspices of the Lutherans.
General Porterfield died on Monday, February 13, 1843, in the ninety-first year of his age.
In October, 1843, two attempts at balloon ascensions were made in Staunton. John Wise, of Pennsylvania, a famous æro- naut, advertised an ascension on the 3d of October. He began to inflate his balloon in the Academy lot, around which a high and close fence had been built, spectators being admitted at so much a head, children half price. But the wind was very high, and Mr. Wise, with the concurrence of the crowd, abandoned his project, promising, however, to renew it at some future day. The second attempt, on Saturday, the 14th, although by a man named Cramer, was in fulfillment of the promise, and was open to the public. Multitudes of people came in from the surround- ing country, and even from neighboring counties, to witness the spectacle. It was a beautiful October day, and the sight of the immense crowd in Stuart's meadow and on the side of the adja- cent hill, including many females in gay shawls and dresses, was most picturesque. This time, however, there was not gas enough to inflate the balloon. Cramer detached the car, or basket, and sat astride the ropes ; he stripped off his coat, his hat, his shoes, and nearly all his clothing, but was still too heavy to ascend. The balloon occasionally leaped up a few yards, but before the crowd could raise a shout it was down again. Partly floating in
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the air, and partly borne by several men, who every now and then tried to toss it up, it traversed Stuart's hill, the eager throng fol- lowing after. Finally everybody became exhausted, and the people dispersed, well pleased with the sport. A successful ascen- sion could not have afforded half the entertainment. Previous to this date paper balloons, inflated with heated air, had frequently been sent up at night.
Some description of the four great lawyers of Staunton, who are mentioned in the early part of the preceding chapter as cotemporaries, will not be out of place here.
Major Sheffey, as he was called, is described by persons who remem- ber him, as a short, stout man, very near-sighted, having a decided Ger- man accent in his speech, and a habit of twirling his watch seal while addressing a court or jury. His extraordinary ability was universally conceded. He was a native of Frederick, Maryland, and originally a shoemaker. Settling at Wytheville to pursue his trade, he studied law, and soon became distinguished at the bar, in the Legislature, and in Congress. His home at Staunton was at the place called Kalorama. He died in 1830.
Mr. Johnson was a native of Louisa county, and was educated at William and Mary College. He was a tall and portly man. His fea- tures were regular and handsome, and his countenance was benignant. He always dressed well, and as he rode on horseback to and from his country seat, Bearwallow, every beholder recognized him as a man of mark. His speeches in court were long and lond, but always very able. He died in 1849.
Mr. Peyton was born in Stafford county, and educated at Princeton College. He, like Mr. Johnson, was tall, large and erect, and dressed neatly. He also rode on horseback to and from Montgomery Hall, a mile west of town. His speeches were never very long, and never wearied the listener. As a prosecuting attorney he was considered un. rivalled. To many persons he probably appeared haughty; but to those he approved of, however young or ignorant, he was very genial and kind. He died in 1847.
General Baldwin-so called till he was elected a judge of the Su- preme Court of Appeals-was born in Frederick county, and educated at William and Mary College. His residence at Staunton was at Spring Farm, less than a mile from his office. He was a large man, of rather ungraceful figure, and very indifferent about his costume, though not slovenly. He rarely appeared on horseback, but generally walked to and from town, carrying his papers in a green bag, and apparently ab-
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sorbed in thinking over some important matter. He was a man of great benevolence, and in his private circle of friends distinguished for his affectionate disposition. He was considered an eloquent speaker, but was more eminent as a writer. His popularity in the county was unbounded. He died in 1852. He was major-general of militia.
All these distinguished lawyers were adherents of the Episcopal church.
Dr. Addison Waddell held no conspicuous public office, and his name seldom appears in our Annals. The writer, however, may say of his father, what all who knew him admitted to he true, that he was a learned and wise physician, and a deeply-read metaphysician and theologian. Born near Gordonsville in 1785, he was educated at Hampden-Sidney College and in Philadelphia, and lived in Staunton from 1809 till 1855. Unambitious for himself, he spent his life in en- deavoring to help the suffering and needy.
"More bent to raise the wretched than to rise."
He " walked with God " as did Enoch; and, on the evening of June 18, 1855, "he was not, for God took him." His brother, Lyttelton Wad- dell, Esq., died March II, 1869, and his son, Dr. J. Alexander Waddell, July 23, 1883.
CHAPTER XII.
FROM 1844 TO 1860.
The political canvass of 1844 was conducted in Augusta, as well as elsewhere, with nearly as much ardor as was displayed in 1840. The Whigs were active in their efforts to secure the elec- tion of Henry Clay, but failed of success.
A second newspaper was established in Staunton, in 1845, as the organ of the Democrats of the county. It was first called the Augusta Democrat, but the name was subsequently changed to Staunton Vindicator.
When the war between the United States and Mexico arose, in 1846, the State of Virginia furnished a regiment of volunteers, to which Augusta county contributed a company. The commis- sioned officers of the company were Kenton Harper, Captain, and Robert H Kinney, Vincent E. Geiger and William H. Har- man, Lieutenants: The Virginia regiment was employed on the northern frontier of Mexico, and, the war having shifted to other parts of the country, never encountered the enemy in battle. The Augusta company returned home in August, 1848.
In the meanwhile the subject of internal improvements occu - pied much attention in the county. A meeting of the people was held in October, 1846, and resolutions were adopted in favor of the extension westward of the Louisa railroad, then completed to Gordonsville. A convention of delegates from several counties met in Staunton on the 30th of the same month, and passed reso- lutions of similar purport. Another more imposing convention was held in Staunton in October, 1848, which took action in favor of tunneling the Blue Ridge, and extending the railroad to Cov- ington. We cannot follow the history of this railroad, afterwards
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called the Virginia Central, and now the Chesapeake and Ohio. The road was completed to Staunton, and opened for travel in 1854.
On March 9, 1848, an act of the Legislature was passed au- thorizing the extension of the " Howardsville and Rockfish turn- pike " from Martin's Mill, in Nelson, to Greenville, in Augusta, the State to pay two-fifths of the cost, not exceeding fourteen thousand dollars. The turnpike was subsequently extended from Howard's Gap to the Staunton and Middlebrook road, about a mile from the latter place.
The "Junction Valley Turnpike Company" was chartered March 17, 1849, to make a macadamized road from Buchanan to Staunton, through Lexington, with a capital of sixty thousand dollars, of which the State subscribed three-fifths. This road was graded and planked, but not macadamized.
On Monday, February 11, 1850, occurred what was designated at the time as the " Irish Rebellion." The Irish laborers on the Central Railroad were "Corkonians," but a party of "Far- downers" [north of Ireland people] came to work on the section near Fishersville, and with their wives and children took posses- sion of a large frame house. The "Corkonians" at the Blue Ridge tunnel warned them off, and finally, on the 11th, marched through Waynesborough, two hundred and thirty five in number, and assailed the "Fardowners" in their quarters. They beat the men, broke into boxes, tore up clothing, burnt down the house, and then returned to the mountain. The neighboring country people were afraid to approach near enough to ascertain the true state of affairs, and the most exaggerated and alarming reports were brought to town. We heard that many persons had been killed, and that human heads were rolling about like pumpkins. The civil authorities called upon the military for as- sistance ; the drum was beat, nearly all the young men in town fell into ranks, and about dark a large company, well armed, marched off to the scene of disturbance. Every one fully ex- pected a fight with the rioters. Several mounted men started in advance of the infantry, and finding on their arrival at the burnt house that the enemy had retired, crossed over to Fishersville to meet the main body. When the latter came up, the force pushed on to Waynesborough. The company arrived there at eleven o'clock, and after resting awhile, proceeded to the mountain to
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make a night attack. A house in which some of the Irish lodged, was surrounded, and the inmates surrendered without resistance. Other suspected Irish were arrested in Waynes- borough and on the road-in fact, every stranger whose tongue betrayed him as a native of the Emerald Isle-so that about fifty prisoners were secured and brought to Staunton. They were examined by several magistrates during two or three days, but' it was impossible to identify many of them as rioters. Only two or three were finally convicted and punished. The expedition and subsequent trials furnished many entertaining and comical incidents. The prisoners displayed their native wit on all occa- sions, and seemed to enjoy the sport as fully as others. Finally the community lost sight of the lawlessness of the occurrence in the amusement over the affair ; and what at first appeared a dreadful tragedy, ended in general laughter.
The "Middlebrook and Brownsburg Company " was char- tered March 17, 1851, to make a turnpike from Staunton to Lexington, by way of Middlebrook and Brownsburg. The capi- tal stock was thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, of which the State subscribed three-fifths. The road was made as contemplated.
The first bank opened here was established in 1847. It was a branch of the " Bank of the Valley in Virginia," at Winchester, and was known as the " Valley Bank, at Staunton." The Cen- tral Bank of Virginia, an independent institution, was established here in 1853. The funds of these institutions were unavoidably converted into Confederate currency and securities during the war of 1861-65, and the capital of both was found to be worth- less at the end of the war.
The Mossy Creek Academy, a high school for boys, was estab- lished in 1850, by Jed. Hotchkiss. A handsome and convenient building was erected, and the school flourished for a number of years. Many of its pupils became prominent and useful men, The war of secession closed this school, as it did most others. During a part of the war the building was used as a Confederate military hospital, and was accidentally destroyed by fire. The portions of the building not consumed were used in the construction of a public free school-house on or near the site of the academy.
The subject of calling a convention to revise the State Consti- tution was agitated for several years previous to 1850. In that
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year the convention was called; the members from Augusta were David Fultz and Hugh W. Sheffey, and the new Constitution was ratified by the people at the polls in 1851. The changes in our system of government were numerous and radical. Suffrage was extended to all white male citizens, and judges, justices of the peace and all county officers were made elective by the people. 58
The last session of the County Court of Augusta under the old system was held July 26, 1852. Lyttelton Waddell was the last of the high sheriffs, but held the office for only a few months. George M. Cochran, Sr., would have succeeded him, if there had been no change in the Constitution. Both these gentlemen had served as members of the County Court for many years without compensation. The people, however, retained most of the former county officers. Judge Thompson was elected judge of the Circuit Court, Nicholas C. Kinney clerk of that court, and Jefferson Kinney clerk of the County Court. Moses H. McCue was elected sheriff, and William H. Harman commonwealth's attorney.
Under the Constitution of 1850, justices of the peace were elected for a term of four years, beginning July 1, 1852. The first County Court was held by the new justices on the fourth Monday in July of that year. Colonel James Crawford was elected president of the court. His successor was Nathaniel Massie, and other presiding justices were, in the order named: Robert Guy, J. Marshall McCue, and Robert G. Bickle.
Alexander H. H. Stuart, of Staunton, was called to the cabi- net of President Fillmore in 1850, as Secretary of the Interior.
58 The justices of the peace and members of the County Court at the time the change was made were Shelton S. Abney, Jacob Baylor, David S. Bell, James Bell, Samuel H. Bell, James Berry, John B. Breckenridge, Robert P. Brown, George M. Cochran, James A. Cochran, Samuel D. Crawford, James Crawford, Benjamin Crawford, Joseph D. Craig, Dr. John A. Davidson, John G. Fulton, Theophilus Gamble, David Griffith, Robert Guy, William Guy, Samuel Harnsberger, Dr. Isaac Hall, William Harris, Samuel Harris, Kenton Harper, Porterfield A. Heiskell, James Henry, Elijah Hogshead, David Kerr, Samuel Kennerly, James M. Lilly, Nathaniel Massie, Edward G. Moorman, Archer M. Moore, John McCue, J. Marshall McCue, John A. Patterson, William Ramsey, Joseph Smith, James M. Stout, Gerard B. Stuart, William M. Tate, Dr. A. Waddell, Lyttelton Waddell, John Wayt, Thomas P. Wilson, William Willson, Luke Woodward, Lewis Wayland, and William Young.
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After the adoption of the Constitution of 1851, Staunton was usually selected as the place in which to hold State conventions of the Democratic party, to nominate candidates for governor, lieutenant-governor and attorney-general. Here Joseph John- son and Henry A. Wise were successively nominated for the office of governor, by large and tumultuous assemblies.
We must not omit to mention the great snow storm of Janu- ary, 1857, which is still often referred to in conversation, and by the newspapers. Snow began to fall about 7 o'clock Saturday night, the 17th, and continued without cessation for twenty-four hours. All day Sunday, the 18th, the mercury stood at zero, and the wind blew in a gale from apparently every point of the compass, driving the snow into houses through every crack, piling it up many feet deep in some places, and in others sweep- ing the earth bare. The running of trains on the Virginia Cen- tral railroad was suspended for ten days, and as there was then no telegraph line to Staunton, the people of the town and county were cut off from communication with the outside world. But never did good-fellowship and all the social virtues prevail so generally in the community. Two issues of the Staunton news- papers were brought out during the embargo, and the editors were put to the trumps for copy. At length after dark Tuesday evening, the 27th, the town was startled and elated by the unac- customed sound of an engine whistle, and a large part of the population rushed to the depot to learn the news. Did Rich- mond, Washington and New York survive, or had they been smothered to death by the snow? The train proved to be only an engine with one car attached, bringing the passengers who had started from Richmond on the 18th. The regular western train of that day was arrested by the storm at Louisa Courthouse, and the passengers were detained there till the 21st. They then worked their way by some means to Gordonsville, where they had to remain till the 25th. Starting again, they spent a night in the railroad car, and reached Staunton, as stated, on the 27th. They brought no mail nor news except the account of their own adventures. At 4 o'clock Wednesday, January 28th, the first train from Richmond arrived with thirty bags of mail for the Staunton post-office.
The John Brown raid at Harper's Ferry occurred in the fall of 1859. Many military companies were assembled at that place by
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order of Governor Wise, among them the West Augusta Guard of Staunton, Captain W. S. H. Baylor. This fanatical affair was like "the letting out of waters," comparatively trifling in itself, but tending to the desperate strife which arose in less than two years thereafter.
CHURCHES IN AUGUSTA COUNTY.
A history of religious denominations is an essential part of the an- nals of a county, and we regret that we cannot give a more detailed and satisfactory account of the various churches in Augusta Efforts to ob- tain information, however, have signally failed. There has been a strange neglect on the part of the officers and members of most con- gregations to preserve the history of their respective organizations.
The first settlers of the county having been almost unanimously Pres- byterians, the congregations and meeting-houses of that denomination ante-date all others by many years. We have given such accounts as we have of the earliest Presbyterian congregations-Augusta (or Stone Church), Tinkling Spring, Hebron (or Brown's Meeting-house), Rock Spring, and Bethel. Mossy Creek church was organized in 1767. All these congregations have had a succession of worthy, and in some cases eminent, pastors, besides many heretofore mentioned, including the Rev. William Brown, Rev. F. M. Bowman and Dr. Handy, of Augusta church ; and the Rev. Messrs. B. M. Smith, R. L. Dabney, C. S. M. See and G. B. Strickler, of Tinkling Spring. There was no regular Presby- terian church organization in Staunton till 1804. At first the Presbyte- rians living in town were connected with Tinkling Spring. From 1804 to about 1824, or 1825, Staunton and Hebron united in the support of a pastor. The first church building of the denomination in the town was erected in 1818. Before the Revolution, Presbyterian ministers preached occasionally in the courthouse, and after the war, up to the year 1818, they officiated on alternate Sundays in the old parish church. The Rev. Joseph Smith was the first pastor of the Staunton church, when it be- came a separate, or self-sustaining, organization, from 1826 to 1832. The present house of worship was erected in 1871, the old church being then turned over to the Augusta Female Seminary.
A second Presbyterian church was organized in Staunton in 1875, and its church building erected in 1876.
The first Presbyterian church in Waynesborough was erected about 1798, which was superseded by another in 1824. Until 1847, Waynes- borough was associated with Tinkling Spring in the support of a pastor. In that year, however, a separate church was organized there, with the Rev. William T. Richardson as pastor.
Other Presbyterian churches in the county, with the dates of their organization, are as follows: Union, 1817; Shemeriah, 1832 ; Mt. Car-
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mel, 1835; Mt. Horeb, 1857; and Loch Willow, at Churchville, 1866. There are also several chapels in the county connected with various congregations.
The many "Mounts" in the county are supposed to be an importa- tion from "the old country." The prefix of Mount to names of places is common in the north of Ireland.
The Church of England being established by law in the colony till the Revolution, vestrymen for Augusta parish were elected in 1746, and a rector was appointed during 1747. The erection of the parish church was not begun, however, till 1760. The building was finished in 1762, the rector officiating in the meanwhile in the courthouse and private dwellings. Mr. Balmaine, the curate in 1775, entered the army as chap- lain at the beginning of the Revolutionary war, and did not return to Staunton to reside. It is said that a minister named Chambers offici- ated here for a short time, in 1788, and then removed to Kentucky. From that time, till about 1811, there was no regular Episcopal service in the church. In the meanwhile, several prominent gentlemen from Eastern Virginia had settled in Staunton, and having been reared in the Episcopal church, they naturally desired to reinstate here the modes of worship to which they were attached. It is said also that fears were entertained lest the heirs of William Beverley might successfully claim the lot if the Episcopal service were permanently discontinued, and thus alienate not only the church but the common burying-ground of the town. At that time Mr. William King resided in Staunton. He was a zealous member of the Methodist church, and a man of exemp- lary character. Originally a cooper by trade, Dr. Boys gave him some instruction in surgery, and he then practiced medicine upon a system peculiar to himself. At the instance of Mr. Peyton, and others, Bishop Madison, in 1811, licensed Mr. King as deacon, to read the Episcopal service in the church. He officiated in this manner for some years. In 1815 he paid tax as one of the physicians of the county.
The Rev. Daniel Stephens, D. D., a regularly educated minister, set- tled in Staunton, in 1820, as rector of the parish and principal of the Staunton Academy. He remained for a few years only, going to the west in 1827. The next rector was the Rev. Ebenezer Boyden, who took charge of the church in 1831. Mr. Boyden was a gentleman of . literary taste and culture, and was the first person in the county to pay particular attention to the cultivation of the grape-vine. He married in Staunton the oldest daughter of Major Daniel Sheffey.
The original parish church was taken down in 1831 and a new church built. The latter gave way to another, which was superseded by the present structure. There are two Episcopal chapels in the county, one called Boyden, five miles southeast of Staunton, and the other called Trinity, two miles west of town.
About the year 1748 the Presbyterians began to hold service in a meeting-house two miles northwest of Midway, or Steel's tavern.
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They called the place "Providence," probably after a church of the same name in Pennsylvania, but in the course of time it was designated " Old Providence," to distinguish it from New Providence in Rock- bridge. In or about 1765, the population on Walker's creek, Rock- bridge, having increased, and the membership being chiefly in that neighborhood, Old Providence was abandoned as a place of worship. When the schism occurred at New Providence in 1789 or 1790 on ac- count of psalmody, a portion of the congregation reopened the Old Providence meeting-house, and it became an Associate Reformed, or "Seceder " Presbyterian church. They built a stone church in 1793, which still stands, but is disused, a brick church, built in 1859-60, hav- ing taken its place. The Rev. Horatio Thompson, D. D., was pastor of Old Providence for many years.
The first Lutheran church in the county, called Coiner's, or Trinity, on South river, was built in 1780. Mt. Tabor church in Riverheads dis- trict, was built in 1785; Mt. Zion, six miles west of Middlebrook, was organized in 1830; Mt. Hermon, at Newport, in 1850; Bethlehem, near Fishersville, in 1843; Mt. Zion, near Waynesborough, about 1845; Staunton Lutheran church, in 1850; Salem, near Mt. Sidney, in 1845; and the Churchville church, in 1850. Bethany, near Waynesborough, and Pleasant View, between Staunton and the village of Springhill, are other Lutheran churches.
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