USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta county, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871 > Part 56
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In June, General Stoneman succeeded General Schofield as con- mander of "Military District No. 1," and was therefore practically governor of Virginia.
The question of a county subscription of $300,000 to the stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad company was submitted to the voters of Augusta on the 27th of August. Not more than half the registered voters went to the polls. It required a majority of three- fifths of the votes cast to carry the proposition, and it was defeated, - yeas, 1,205 ; nays, 1,077.
The first Augusta County Fair was opened on Tuesday, October 27th, and continued on Wednesday and Thursday. The dedication address was delivered by Mr. Stuart. In the midst of the general
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depression, on account of onr political affairs and prospects, the Fair was enjoyed as an agreeable and seasonable pastime and relief. The Fair ground was then along Lewis' creek, a mile east of Staunton.
On the 3rd of November, the presidential election took place in the Northern States. The people of Virginia were not permitted to vote.
In December, 1868, what was afterwards designated as "The New Movement " was started by Mr. Alexander H. H. Stuart, with other citizens of Staunton co-operating. Mr. Stuart and his associates wrote to many prominent men in various parts of the State, inviting a conference in Richmond, on Thursday, December 31st, in regard to the state of public affairs. About forty gentlemen met at the time and place appointed. At that time it was understood that Congress, in order to compel the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Underwood Constitution, would soon pass an act vacating every office in the State, leaving them to be filled by the classes known as "carpet-baggers " and "scalawags." The former were people of Northern birth, who had recently come into the State to obtain what spoils they could, bringing all their worldly estate in hand-satchels. The latter were native white people who claimed to have always been Union men, but were believed by others to have prostituted themselves for the sake of office.
The conference in Richmond, without presuming to represent the people of Virginia or the Conservative party, proposed to consent to universal suffrage as the means of getting rid of the disfranchisement clauses of the Constitution. They regarded negro suffrage as inevita- ble. A committee was appointed to go to Washington and negotiate with Congress a compromise on the basis of "universal suffrage and universal amnesty." The committee consisted of Messrs. Stuart and Baldwin, of Augusta ; John L. Marye, Wyndham Robertson, William T. Sutherland, William L. Owen, James F. Johnson, James Neeson, and J. F. Slaughter, and soon became famous as the "Committee of Nine."
The press of the State, with few exceptions, opposed the move- ment, and the members of the committee were for a time covered with opprobrium, as surrendering the whole field. They repaired to Wash- ington early in January, 1869, and their movements, conferences with leading politicians, etc., were eagerly and widely reported by the newspaper press. On the 18th they submitted to the Judiciary Com- mittee of the Senate, a letter stating the modifications of the Consti- tution proposed by them, -to strike ont certain clauses and modify others. Congress was, therefore, expected virtually to frame a
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Constitution for the State, which to some extent it undertook to do. The " Committee of Nine" merely dealt with circumstances as they existed.
Joint resolutions were passed by Congress, January 23, declaring that all persons holding civil offices under the "Provisional Govern- ments" of Virginia and Texas, who could not take the oath pre- scribed by act of July 22, 1866, should be removed, and their places filled by District Commanders by the appointment of persons who could take the oath. Hardly any other qualification for office was re- quired except that the appointee was willing to swear he had not en- gaged in rebellion against the United States.
During the month of February, the "New Movement " was the absorbing topic throughout the State. The Committee of Nine were assailed by argument and ridicule, but they persevered in their course, and public opinion began to change in regard to the propriety of their movement. It was a common remark at the time, uttered or written somewhat ironically, "The Committee of Nine has done a great deal of good." President Johnson, whose terin expired March 4, was at open war with the majority in Congress, and it was well understood that they would favor whatever he opposed. It was therefore suggested that the committee induce him to promise in advance to veto a bill embracing their scheme, as a means of securing its passage. Senator Boutwell was represented as enquiring, whether, if all disabilities were removed, the people of Virginia would sustain or oppose the Republi- can party ; and the Committee was represented as replying, they " could do a great deal of good."
The justices of the peace elected by the people of Augusta, were removed from office, in February, and others appointed by General Stoneman. At February court a new sheriff, also appointed by Stone- man, qualified and assumed the duties of the office.
A State Convention of the Radical party was held in Petersburg, March 10, which nominated Henry H. Wells for Governor, J. D. Har- ris, (a negro), for Lieutenant Governor, and Thomas R. Bowden for Attorney-General. A portion of the members seceded, headed by Franklin Stearns, desiring, as they said, to "rescue the Republican party of Virginia from the management and control of designing and selfish politicians." They organized and nominated a State ticket, - Gilbert C. Walker for Governor, John F. Lewis for Lieutenant-Gover- nor, and James C. Taylor for Attorney-General. This was popularly designated " the Newest Movement." This party called themselves " Liberal Republicans."
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In March, the judge of the Circuit Court of Augusta, and the clerks of all the courts sitting in Staunton, were removed, and the offices filled by military appointments. David Fultz was appointed judge in place of Hugh W. Sheffey. Mr. Fultz was one of the few citizens of the county who never gave in their adhesion to the Confederate government, and who, therefore, could take the prescribed oaths with- out forfeiting entirely the respect of the people. Samuel A. East was appointed clerk of the County Court in place of William A. Burnett, but declined to qualify, and the office was conferred upon Samuel Cline, a worthy member of the Dunkard church, who could take the oath honestly if any resident here during the war could. Robert D. Sears was appointed clerk of the Circuit Court in place of Joseph N. Ryan, and the Rev. Samuel J. Baird, clerk of the Hustings Court of Staunton, in place of James F. Patterson. Messrs. Baird and Sears resided at the North during the war, and were therefore out of the way of giving aid and comfort to the "rebellion." These appoint- ments of clerks were merely nominal, however, the former incumbents, under the name of deputies, continning to discharge the duties and receive the profits of the offices. John R. Popham, a resident of Bath county, was appointed Commonwealth's Attorney for Augusta, there being no resident lawyer qualified according to the existing requirement. All the commissioners in chancery were removed, a military appointee undertaking to perform their various functions. Thus all the old officers were deposed, and new men, many of them strangers, installed in their places.
The farce of having a governor, "so-called," played out on the 27th of March, when a military order was issued, announcing that Henry H. Wells, "Provisional Governor," was removed, and that all the powers of the chief executive were assumed by General Stoneman.
General Grant was inaugurated President of the United States Marclı 4, 1869. Before, and after his inauguration, he gave his conn- tenance to the "Committee of Nine" and the "New Movement." On the 9th of April, Congress passed an act authorizing the president to submit the " Underwood Constitution " to the qualified voters of the State, and to subinit to a separate vote such clauses thereof as lie might deem proper. The president was authorized to fix the day of election, at which time also State officers and members of Congress and the Legislature should be elected. The "Committee of Nine," therefore, finally obtained all, or nearly all, they sought.
The State Executive Committee and County Superintendents of the Conservative party met in Richmond, April 28, and withdrew Messrs. Withers, Walker and Marye from the field, with their consent.
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They nominated no other candidates, and it was understood that the Walker ticket would be supported by the party.
President Grant, on May 18, issued a proclamation appointing July 6 as election day in Virginia, and requiring a separate vote to be taken on several clauses of the Constitution.
During the month of May, General Canby became military govern- or in place of General Stoneman.
Before the election a new registration of voters was made. The number registered in Augusta county was 5,788-4,426 white, and 1, 362 colored.
At the election, on the 6th of July, the new Constitution was rat- ified by the vote of the people, the clauses specially submitted being, however, stricken out. Gilbert C. Walker was elected Governor, and the Conservatives and Liberals secured a large majority in both branch- es of the Legislature Joseph A. Waddell was elected to represent the district of Augusta and Highland counties in the Senate, and the dele- gates elected in Augusta were Henderson M. Bell, Marshall Hanger,* and Alexander B. Cochran. William Milnes, of Page county, was elected to represent the district of Augusta, Page, etc., in the lower house of Congress.
In pursuance of a proclamation issued by General Canby, the Legislature met on the 5th of October. Both Houses were speedily organized, and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States were formally ratified. After the election of United States Senators, the Legislature adjourned to await the further pleasure of Congress.
The stockholders of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company met in Richmond in November, 1869, and ratified a contract previous- ly entered into by the directors with Huntington and others, by which the completion of the road to the Ohio river was secured.
The proceedings of the Legislature being so far satisfactory, a bill to admit Virginia into the Union was passed by Congress January 24, 1870. The theory of "Union men" had been previously that the act of secession liad not taken the State out of the Union. This theory could not be ignored consistently, and therefore the bill referred to was styled "An act to admit the State of Virginia to representation in the Congress of the United States." The people, however, did not care to criticise phraseology. . They congratulated themselves upon the prospect of peace and quietness at last, although
* Augusta has furnished more speakers of the House of Delegates than prob- ably any other county. Hugh W. Sheffey served in that capacity during the war. John B. Baldwin in 1865, to 1867, and Marshall Hanger from 1871 to 1877.
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they felt irritated at the ungracious conduct towards them of the party in power. The course of this party was entirely illogical, to say the least of it. If the State was out of the Union in October, 1869, low could its Legislature ratify the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend- ments ? If it was in the Union, what right had Congress to meddle with its affairs ?
The Legislature met again on the 8th of February, and proceeded to organize the State government under the new Constitution. Josepli A. Waddell was elected president pro tem. of the Senate. Judges and other public officers were elected as speedily as possible. William Mclaughlin was elected judge of the Circuit Court of Rockbridge, Augusta, etc. ; John N. Hendren judge of the County Court of Augusta, and Alexander B. Cochran judge of the Hustings Court of Staunton. The last named declining the office mentioned, J. W. Green Smith was finally elected in his place. In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and an act of the Legislature, the town of Staunton was erected into a city.
The Shenandoah Valley Railroad Company was organized in March, 1870 .*
The last County Court of Angusta county, held by justices of the peace, sat April 1, 1870, and the last orders of the court were attested by William J. Nelson, president pro tem. At the next term the bench was occupied by Judge John N. Hendren.
On the 27th of April, the great disaster at the capitol in Ricli- mond occurred, by which sixty-two persons were killed and many others wounded. Among the wounded was Henderson M. Bell, one of the delegates from Augusta.
The first election in Virginia of supervisors took place on the fourth Thursday in May, and in Augusta the following persons were elected : Jolin Paris, Joseph D. Craig, John G. Fulton, Thomas W. Shelton, William T. Rush and Henry B. Sieg.
The people of the county voted, August 6th, upon a proposition to subscribe $300,000 to the stock of the Valley Railroad Company, and it was defeated by a decisive majority. During the following year the vote was taken upon the proposed county subscription of $200.000 to the Valley Railroad and $100,000 to the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, and it also was defeated.
On the last three days of September heavy rains fell in a large portion of the State. The water courses were swollen beyond anything ever known before, and in the valleys of the James and Shenandoah
* The road was completed to Waynesborough in April, 1881, aud the first train went through to Roanoke City in June, 1882.
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the destruction of property was unprecedented. Many lives also were lost.
County officers uuder the Constitution were elected in Augusta November 8th, viz : James Bumgardner, Commonwealth's Attorney ; William L. Mowry, Sheriff ; Samuel Paul, County Treasurer ; Joseph N. Ryan, Clerk of the Circuit Court ; William A. Burnett, Clerk of the County Court; and John D. Lilley, County Surveyor. At the same time, John T. Harris, of Rockingham, was elected to Congress.
And here, at the close of 1870, we close our Annals.
JOHN BROWN BALDWIN was the oldest son of Judge Briscoe G. Baldwin, and was born near Staunton, January 11, 1820. His mother was a daughter of Chancellor John Brown. He was educated at the Staunton Academy and the University of Virginia. In 1841 he was admitted to the bar, and the following year married the oldest daugh- ter of John H. Peyton, Esq. As soon as lie attained the prescribed age, he was elected by the people of Augusta a member of the House of Delegates, and served one term in that body with Nathaniel Massie, Esq., as his colleague. Having a fondness for military affairs, he be- came Captain of the Staunton Light Infantry, and, finally, Colonel of the one-hundred-and-sixtieth regiment of militia. At an early age lie acquired distinction as a lawyer and as a political speaker. In 1859, his friends brought him forward as a candidate for Judge of the Court of Appeals, the judges being elected by districts, but his competitor, Judge William J. Robertson, obtained a majority of the votes cast. The steps in his subsequent career have been noted in the course of our narrative. Being thoroughly identified with the people of Angus- ta and highly appreciated by them, his death, which occurred Septem- ber 30, 1873, caused universal lamentation in the county.
STAUNTON BANKS. The first banking institution in Staunton after the war, was opened by Hugh W. Sheffey and William Allan, known as Allan & Co., brokers and bankers. The firm began business in July, 1865, and continued till the First National Bank was started in November of the same year. Hugh W. Sheffey was the first Presi- dent of the latter, and William Allan, Cashier. The capital was $100,000. The National Valley Bank of Staunton was chartered in November, 1865, but did not engage in business till January following. Of this bank, John Echols was President, and Edwin M. Taylor, Cashier. Capital $100,000. Alexander H. H. Stuart became Presi- dent of the First National Bank, and in July, 1866, M. Harvey Effinger was made Cashier in place of William Allan, resigned. Edwin M. Taylor resigning as Cashier of the Valley Bank, in February, 1868, was succeeded by William C. Eskridge. In 1875, the two banks were
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consolidated under the name of the National Valley Bank of Staunton, John Echols, President, and M. Harvey Effinger, Cashier, succeeded by Thomas A. Bledsoe. Capital $200,000. The Augusta National Bank, of Staunton, was organized in 1875-Hugh W. Sheffey, Presi- dent, and N. P. Catlett, Cashier. Capital at first, $50.000, but soon increased to $100,000.
APPENDICES.
BESSY BELL AND MARY GRAY.
During the time over which we have passed in the course of our Aunals, one generation of men after another has flitted by "like shadows o'er the plain." "The fathiers, where are they ?" Old honses, too, and nearly all the ancient works of man, have been rapidly disappearing. It is only here and there that a structure associated with the early times of the county remains.
But some objects in and around Staunton have remained the same year after year, substantially unchanged and unchangeable. These old hills, who does not love them ? The pioneer settlers in Beverley's Manor saw them as we see them now, and no "native to the manor born " can ever behold or think of them without feelings of almost filial affection. The dwellers in level countries cannot appre- ciate many parts of the book of Psalms. When they read of "the mountains round about Jerusalem," no chord in their heart vibrates ; and those other words, " I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help," so pleasant to us, excite no emotion in them.
Pre-eminent among our Staunton hills stand Bessy Bell and Mary Gray. We prefer the original Scotch spelling and pronunciation of the former name. "Betsy," as people call it now, is harsh and crabbed, but "Bessy " " is soft as is Apollo's lute."
As far as we know there is nothing remarkable in the structure or products of the two hills. We presume the soil continues to produce annual crops of huckleberries and chincapins, as it did in days of yore. One of the former productions of that region, however, has long since disappeared. Seventy or eighty years ago the boys and girls who went there for berries and nuts returned with an ample supply of ticks, the little insects now quite unknown in this part of the country.
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It must be confessed that Bessy Bell and Mary Gray cannot boast of the cedars of Lebanon, the dew of Hermon, or "the excel- lency of Carmel." Even the prospect from the higher peak does not fully compensate for the toil of climbing the rugged ascent. Bessy Bell is no Pisgah ; but of hier it may be said emphatically,
"Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, And robes the mountain in its azure hue.
People living in Staunton, northwest of Bessy Bell, never see how beautiful she appears at sunrise ; but all of them who love the picturesque must have observed and feasted upon the entrancing beauty sometimes presented after a shower of rain, by the rays of the setting sun lingering of a summer's evening upon her leafy summit. And then, when the clouds gather around her head, and "Bessy Bell puts her nightcap on," we see hier in another phase scarcely less attractive. Ben Nevis and Snowden are doubtless goodly mountains, but what are they to Bessy Bell and Mary Gray ! Surely no Staunton boy, coming home from his wanderings, ever fails to look out for the old familiar hills, and to hail them at first sight with feelings akin to rapture.
It was once currently reported that Bessy Bell and Mary Gray were young girls murdered near Staunton by the Indians; but there is no foundation for the story. The names are of Scottish origin. Ac- cording to the tradition, Mary Gray's father was laird of Lednoch, and Bessy Bell's of Kinvaid. An intimate friendship existed between the girls, and while Bessy was on a visit to Mary Gray, in 1645, the plague broke out in the neighborhood. To escape the pestilence, they built a bower, near Lednoch House, and lived there for some time. But the plague raging with great fury, they caught it from a young man who was in love with both of them, and who had brought them their food. They died in their bower, and were buried near the river Almond, half a mile from the house of Lednoch, which is seven miles northwest from Perth. Their sad fate became the subject of a ballad, which commenced thus :
O Bessy Bell and Mary Gray ! They were twa bonnie lasses - They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae, An' theekit it ower wi' rashes. They theekit it ower wi' rashes green, They happit it round wi' heather ; But the pest cam' frae the burrows-toun, An' slew them baith thegither.
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The remainder has been lost, except the concluding stanza :
They thought to lie in Methven Kirk, Beside their gentle kin ; But they maun lie in Dronach baugh, And beak fornent the sin. O Bessy Bell and Mary Gray ! They were twa bonnie lasses- They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae, An' theekit it ower wi' rashes.
Allan Ramsey's ballad on the same subject is a modern produc- tion. He adopted only the first four lines of the old ballad, and ap- pended to them a new song of his own, which, instead of lamenting the fate of the "bonnie lasses," celebrated the witcheries of their charms. Thus :
O Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, They are twa bonny lasses, They bigg'd a bower on yon burn-brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes. Fair Bessy Bell, I loo'd yestreen, And thought I ne'er could alter ; But Mary Gray's twa pawky e'en, They gar my fancy falter.
Now Bessy's hair's like a lint-tap ; She smiles like a May morning, When Phoebus starts frae Thetis' lap, The hills with rays adorning : White is her neck, saft is hier hand, Her waist and feet's fu' genty, With ilka grace she can command. Her lips, O wow! they 're dainty.
And Mary's locks are like a craw, Her eyes like diamonds glances ; She's ay sae clean, red up and braw, She kills whene'er she dances ; Blyth as a kid, with wit at will, She blooming, tight, and tall is ; And guides her airs sae gracefu' still, O Jove ! she's like thy Pallas.
Dear Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, Ye nnco sair oppress us ; Our fancies jee between you twae, Ye are sic bonny lasses : Wae's me ! for baith I canna get, To ane by law we're stinted ; Then I'll draw cuts, and take my fate, And be with ane contented.
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When a new proprietor took possession of Lednoch, about the year 1781, a heap of stones, almost covered with thorns and briers, was shown to him as the burial place of Bessy Bell and Mary Gray. He removed all the rubbish, made up the grave double, planted flow- ering shrubs around it, and enclosed the spot with a wall, in which he fixed a stone, bearing in engraved letters the names of Bessy Bell and Mary Gray.
These names were carried from Scotland to Ireland, and applied to two mountains in County Tyrone, near the town of Omagh ; and by our Scotch-Irish ancestors they were brought to the Valley of Virginia .*
The old Irish name of Bessy Bell mountain was Sliabh-truim, the mountain of the elder. The Scotch who settled in the neighbor- hood after the year 1600 changed the name.
As introductory to the following lines, written in his youth by the Rev. James A. Waddell, D. D., we state for the information of readers not acquainted with the locality, that the Western Lunatic Asylum is at the western base of Bessy Bell, and the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind is on a neighboring knoll, in full view :
TO BESSY BELL.
Now Bessy Bell, why should you swell, With such a towering air ? Wby thus look down on all the town, And frown upon the fair ?
'Tis true, you're tall, but that's not all- You're ugly, big, and bold ; You're bald and bare, and some e'en dare To whisper you are old.
Grizzly old maid, you're much decayed (My pencil shall not flatter), And one may guess, your style of dress Can never mend the matter.
Your taste prefers a cap and spurs To all the forms of fashion, And you must own a heart of stone, Insensible of passion.
* Other early settlers iu this region called another hill Betsy Bell, showiug how they cherished the associations of their former life in the old country. This hill is in Bath county, on the Cowpasture river, about a mile below Windy Cove church. It is said that the Indiau uame for the beautiful Cowpasture was Wallawhatoola.
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But, dear Miss Bell, the Muse must tell Your virgin boast and pride-
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