USA > Virginia > Bedford County > Bedford County > Historical sketch: Bedford County, Virginia, 1753-1907 > Part 3
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Virginia, owing to her geographical position, was destined to become one great battlefield. On her soil were to be marshalled hosts of combating armies, and her mountains and valleys were to be crimsoned with the best blood of the nation. Within her domain was to arise a new commonwealth, and both mother and daughter were to reside upon the ancient estate. The year 1861 found Virginia in a state of civil commotion unparalleled in history, excepting France in the early days of the French Revolu- tion. On one hand lay the states still composing the Federal Union, while on the other were those which had cast their fortunes with the Southern Confederacy.
Virginia hesitated long. A majority of her people .in the east. favored secession, while in the west a large majority was opposed to such action. On the 17th of April, 1861, the ordinance of secession was passed by a vote of 81 to 51. Nearly all the dele- gates voting against it were from the western part of the State. Governor Letcher issued a proclamation declaring Virginia out of the Union, and to the call for troops Bedford County responded promptly. The service of these companies was the first in the State tendered and accepted by the Governor, and nine companies were in the field before the close of May, 1861, namely : The Rifle Grays, Captain Thomas Leftwich; Clay Dragoons, Captain William R. Terry ; Old Dominion Rifles, Captain Thomas M. Bowyer ; Bed- ford Light Artillery, Captain T. C. Jordan; C. R. Rifle, Captain William L. Wingfield ; Dragoons, Captain James Wilson; Rifles,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
Captain James McG. Kent; C. F. Rifle, Captain Aug. L. Minter ; Bedford Rangers, Captain R. C. W. Radford. Early in these days the "Association of Ladies of Bedford County for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Soldiers" was formed and continued to do effective work until the close of the war. The first officers were Mrs. John A. Wharton, president; Mrs. O. P. Bell, vice-president ; Mrs. John F. Sale, treasurer, and Miss Susan Hobson, secretary. The enthusiasm thus manifested in Bedford at the opening of the struggle for State's sovereignty settled down into steady work, and unfaltering self-sacrifice, on the part of all who held dear the honor of the Old Dominion.
At all and any cost Bedford County filled her quota of men ; gave of her abundance and out of her distress mourned her dead martyrs, encouraged her living defenders, and at last submitted to the result of the war with a knowledge that the scriptural com- mendation had been well earned: "She hath done what she could." At one time there were seven hospitals at Bedford City for the care of the sick and wounded soldiers. Of all the matrons. who kindly administered to the wants of the afflicted soldiers at this point only one is now living, and she has in her possession her commission, signed by the doctor in charge. Though Bedford has furnished troops for all the wars, she has been greatly blessed, for the despoiler's foot has not often trod upon her soil.
There was an Indian trail that led from the southwest through a gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains (subsequently known as Bu- ford's Gap) into the Goose Creek Valley; thence traversed the valley northward, and recrossed the Blue Ridge at the head of the valley into Augusta (now Rockbridge) County.
General Andrew Lewis, while acting in the Council of State, left the capital at Williamsburg to return to his home in Bote- tourt (now Roanoke) County to recruit his health. On his way . he was taken ill in Bedford County, and the great soldier and big-hearted patriot breathed his life away in a dwelling located not far from old Mt. Zion Church, in the beautiful valley of Goose Creek in Bedford County, in the neighborhood of part of the gallant soldiers he commanded at the victorious battle at Point Pleasant seven years before his death (which occurred September 25th, 1781), and within half a day's ride to his own home. His remains were conveyed to his home, where they were interred.
33
BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
Each
Subsequently, however, they were removed to the cemetery west of and near to Salem and re-interred, and the federal govern- ment has caused a handsome granite monument to be erected at bis grave.
The following is copied from the Bedford Sentinel, published in Liberty, Va., in 1850 :
"Mr. John Buford (contractor) a few days since, in making an excavation on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, near Goose Creek, in this county, exhumed some half dozen human skeletons, a tomahawk of stone, and some arrow-heads of the same material. That these skeletons are the remains of 'Native Americans' is verified by the finding of the stone tomahawk and arrow-heads along with them; it being a well-known custom of the savage to bury with the warrior his implements of war. We are confirmed in this opinion by a tradition long prevalent in the neighborhood, that an Indian fort once stood near the spot where these bones, etc., were disinterred, and this tradition challenges credence from the fact, that this place is literally covered with shells of different kinds, collected by the savages probably from the neighboring streams.
"Near by, on the lands now owned by Paschal Buford, Esq., we are told, there once stood an American block-house, erected by the whites for their protection after they took possession of that part of the country. It was built of logs closely fitted to each other, with numerous gun holes on every side .- Several years before this land came into the hands of Capt. Buford, the block- house was pulled down, as we are informed, the timbers removed, and a stable erected out of them! Sundry musket balls and any quantity of bullets have been picked up on the lands adjacent within a few years past."
Tarleton during the Revolutionary War made a dash for stores at New London, which was then a part of Bedford County. Hunter came into the county, marched leisurely down the old Salem Pike to New London, and after spending the night near Lynchburg, re- turned by the same route. A few lives were lost on both sides in the light skirmishing. The depot at Bedford City and one of the large hospitals were burned by Hunter, besides several mills and residences. We had the honor on this occasion of visits from two
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
soldiers who afterwards became presidents of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley. A large number of sick and wounded Confederate soldiers from other States died here and were buried on Piedmont Hill. During the last memorial exercises. this year (1907) one of our speakers, a Confederate major, said : "The Confederate soldier has fixed the record of the South in the field of valour. It stands on the page of history matchless and imperishable, and it was the soldier of the rank who did this. It is no detraction to the fame of Generals Jackson, Gordon, Long- ยท street, or Stuart, that the men who followed them to battle were cast in the same heroic mould, that the ragged private was the instrument by which their achievements were made possible. When the last impartial monument shall be erected to the heroes of the South and the last impartial epitaph shall be inscribed upon it, it will rob the great names of Southern history of none of their glory, that monument surmounted by the marble effigy of the common soldier, and its inscription, a testimonial to the South of his sublime courage and preeminence. Since we furled our battle flags and stacked our guns (nearly all of which were wrested from the enemy in battle) and gave our paroles, there have been no more law-abiding citizens. Let it be distinctly under- stood that we have not been going around with our fingers in. our mouths, pining and whining, asking pardons, and promising to do so no more, but with head erect we look the world squarely in the eyes and say we thought we were right in the brave old days, when to do battle was sacred duty, but now in the light of subsequent events we know that we were right, and with malice for none and charity for all, we are asking pardon of no living man."
The men that had rendered the battlefield illustrious took up the plough and made the South waste blossom again as the rose. They were great in peace as in war, and the victories of material development in the last forty-seven years are as far above com- parison as their valor and achievements of their four years of war. The new South is greater than the old in wealth and power, and the possibilities of the future but breathe the old South's un- conquerable spirit and lofty pride, its bravery and independence, and above all cherishes with affection the sweet memories and glory of its other days.
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
VIRGINIA 1281089
Her Advantages and Opportunities
The roses nowhere bloom so white As in Virginia, The sun nowhere shines so bright As in Virginia. The birds sing nowhere quite so sweet, And nowhere hearts so lightly beat,
For heaven and earth both seem to meet, Down in Virginia.
The days are never quite so long As in Virginia, Nor quite so filled with happy song As in Virginia, And when my time has come to die, Just take me back and let me lie,
Close where the Blue Ridge mounts so high, Down in Virginia.
There is nowhere a land so fair As in Virginia; So full of song, so free of care, As in Virginia ; And I believe that happy land The Lord prepared for mortal man Is built exactly on the plan Of old Virginia.
Nowhere the apples grow so fine As in Virginia; Nowhere so ruby red the wine As in Virginia ; Nowhere men braver stand in line, Nor women fairer, more divine, Than in Virginia; So if in life your hopes grow slack, Just take a nip of apple jack And tell the boys to take you back To old Virginia.
Nowhere the horses go more trappy Than in Virginia ;
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
JETER COOPERATIVE SCHOOL
37
BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
Nowhere the homes are more happy Than in Virginia; Nowhere the hunters are more grand Than those bred on the fertile land Of old Virginia; So if you want to have the best And live a life of ease and rest, Come to the land that's stood the test- That's old Virginia.
COLONIAL MILITARY ROSTER.
Below will be found a list of the soldiers of Bedford County who were engaged in warfare with the Indians, French and British before the Declaration of Independence, as appears from Hening's Statutes at large and the records of the County Court, and a few in the Revolutionary War. The records do not contain a complete list of those engaged in any war :
Captains.
John Phelps,
John Quarles,
Matt. Talbot,
Chas. Talbot.
Lieutenants.
Gross Scruggs, Meshach Haile,
John Anthony,
Rich. Andrews,
W.m. Irvine,
Rich. Ragsdale,
Wm. Meade,
Jeremiah Early,
Joseph Rentfro, Sam'l Hairston.
Ensigns.
Sam'l Hairston,
Thos. Prather,
Thos. Gilbert, Benj. Hatcher,
Jeremiah Yarborough, Robt. Hairston, Wm. Irvine.
Sergeants. John Hunter,
Wm. Edwards,
Ambrose Bryant, Wm. Simmonds,
Rich. Callaway, Joseph Rentfro, Thos. Prather, James Patterson, Nath. Patterson,
John Hunter, Ambrose Bramlett, Wm. Bramlett, Josias Gipson, Geo. Watts, Edmund Fair, Jacob Anderson.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
Privates.
Privates.
John Alston,
James Bromlet,
Jacob Anderson,
John Bush,
James Alcorn, Sam'l Arrenton,
Leonard Ballew, James Baldwin,
Geo. Abbott,
Glover Baker,
John Abston,
Jeremiah Baskam,
Wm. Anderson,
Allen Brown,
Geo. Abet,
Peter Berry,
Wm. Allen,
John Biggs,
Barnabus Arthur,
Wm. Brown,
Barnabus Arthur, Jr.,
James Ball, Alexander Boyd,
Thos. Alfred,
Rudolph Banner,
Geo. Adams,
Thos. Buford,
John Adams,
John Buford,
John Anderson,
Jas. Callaway, Thos. Cooper,
John Brown,
Geo. Caldwell,
Amhus Bramlett,
Wm. Chalmor,
Isaac Butterworth, Joseph Benning,
Arch. Campbell,
John Benning,
Wm. Calmore,
Zach. Burnley,
Sandiver Cashiah,
Ambrose Bryan,
Edward Choat,
Saml. Brown,
Augustine Choat,
Chas. Bright,
John Casey,
James Board,
Abraham Chandler,
Wm. Bramlett,
Merry Carter,
Isaac Brown,
Wm. Carson,
W.m. Board,
Chas. Cox,
John Patrick Burks,
Wm. Crabtree,
James Corser,
James Carson,
Thos. Baker,
Hugh Crockett,
Edw. Bright,
John Conner,
Wm. Burks,
David Crews,
Rich. Burks,
Bartholomew Carrill,
Bolling Burks,
Wm. Crouch,
James Bryan, Jesse Bryan,
Geo. Coldwell,
Wm. Bumpass,
Wm. Arthur,
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
Privates.
Privates.
Wm. Conner,
Saml. Gilbert,
Joseph Cogswell, Sr.,
Josiah Gibson,
Geo. Grundy,
Henry Childress, Richard Cottreal,
John Gallaway,
Charles Clark,
Jonathan Ginnings,
Nathaniel Clark,
John Grymes,
Thos. Chapman,
Saml. Gilbert,
Janvier Craigg,
John Gallway,
Wm. Craigg,
Hugh Garvin,
Wm. Coulter,
Ansal Goodman,
John Daunn,
James Graham,
John Dixton,
Wm. Going, John Green,
Edward Davis,
Peter Gashmire,
John Davies,
Nathaniel Gish,
Wm. Dilenham,
Robt. Hairstone, Nicholas Hayes,
James Duly,
John Hardiman,
Thos. Daws,
Chas. Harris,
Thos. Drigger,
Wm. Hinton,
Jonathan Dacon, David Doyle,
Barlet Henson,
Daniel Driskill,
Geo. Haynes,
Joseph Davenport,
Wm. Haynes,
Wm. Dunnaway,
Jacob Henderson,
Archibald Denton,
John Handy,
Thos. Earley,
Benj. Hatcher,
Chas. English,
Patrick Halloquan,
Wm. Fuqua,
John Haynes,
James Fair,
Thos. Hunt,
James Fair,
Geo. Hackworth,
Jesse Farmer,
John Hall,
Nathan Farmer,
Wm. Handy,
Clarence Frank,
Andrew Hairston,
James Fitzgerald,
Patrick Hensey,
Daniel Gilbert,
Benj. Gilbert,
Acquiller Gilbert,
John House,
Mrs. M. J. Henson's hus- band and two sons,
Wm. Davis,
Thos. Duly,
John Hardman,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
Privates.
James Hurt,
Abram Helm,
Reuben Keif,
Jacob Hutts,
Michael Kelly,
John Holly,
David Kerr,
David Hix,
Jacob Kittinger,
Rich. Edwards,
Jos. Looney,
Wm. Edwards,
Elliott Lacy,
Jeremiah Earley,
Head Lynch,
John Edgar, Cary Holland,
John London,
John Humphreys,
John Loson,
David Loson,
William Hudson,
Wm. Lucks,
John Harris,
Wm. Layne,
Moses Hawkins,
Archibald Lamb,
Rush Hudson,
Henry Lahorn,
Thos. Hill,
Philip Lockhart, John Lafoy,
John Hogan,,
Peter Hogan,
William Leister,
James Hogan,
William Hackworth,
David Irvine,
Thos. Murry,
Abraham Irvine,
James McRunnals,
James Johnston,
Abraham Mitchell,
Jonathan Jennings,
Luke Murphy,
William Jackson,
Ralph Jopling,
James Morris, James Murphy,
John Johnson,
John Martin,
John Jackson,
Robt. Martin,
Peter Jones,
Wm. Manley, Jas. McMurtry,
Peter Jines,
Jonathan Jones,
James Jones,
Patrick Johnson,
Robt. Jones,
Thos. Jones,
John Jones,
John Jenkins,
Privates. Sandesur Keiser,
Patrick McDade, Evan Morgan, John Morgan, John Mackay, Jr., James Mackay,
Wm. Morgan, Thos. Morgan,
John Linton, Jas. McRonalds,
George Harmon,
John Lawson,
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
Privates. John Moore, Patrick McDavid,
John Mattos, James Mackie, Wm. Morgan, Jr.,
Joseph Murty,
William Nichols,
John Nichols,
James Noland,
Wm. Morgan, John Meade,
Thos. Overstreet,
Abel Meade,
Thos. Oglesby,
James Moore,
Edward Ohair,
Danl. McFall,
Jas. McFall, John Macky,
Roderick Mckenzie,
William Moseley,
William McMinimy,
Charles Melson,
Major Merritt,
Abiel Mead,
David Preston,
Alexander McKenzie,
George Merritt,
John Pyburn, Robt. Peper,
James McIntire,
Saml. Peper,
Michael Murphy,
Philip Preston,
Patrick Murphy,
Jesse Paty,
William Martin,
Jeremiah Pate,
Robt. Martin,
John Pate,
Christopher Munday,
Matt. Pate,
James Millwood,
Jacob Pate,
Archelus McNeale,
Moses Preston,
James Moore,
Wm. Puttect,
Jos. McDaniel,
James Puttect,
David Morse,
Nathan Pottlet,
Joseph McMurty,
Jonathan Prater,
Abraham McClelan,
Wm. Montgomery,
Privates.
Rich. Maples,
Thos. Maclin, John Neilson, Wm. Nix,
Nimrod Newman,
John Mattocks,
John Mitchum, John Martiam, .
Robt. Oglesby, Thos. Owen,
John Orrack, James Orchard,
William Oliver,
Math. Patterson,
John Pratt,
James Patterson,
Rich. Phillips,
Thos. Pharman,
James Presnal, Wm. Phelps,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
Privates.
Privates.
Rich. Pritchard,
Danl. Richardson,
Michael Poore,
Nathan Richardson,
Andrew Poore,
Stephen Rentfroe,
John Perrin,
John Riley,
James Rentfroe,
Saml. Robinson,
John Phillips,
Bagdale Rice,
John Quarles,
Robert Raiford,
David Rosser,
George Rice,
Thos. Reade,
Nathan Reid,
John Robertson,
William Robinson,
Joseph Ryan,
James Rowsey,
Pharaoh Ryley,
Francis Siver,
John Robertson, Jr.,
John Spurlock,
John Richardson,
Christ. Sitton,
Bailey Reins,
Robt. Shipley,
John Rock,
Robt. Shipley, Jr.,
Thomas Rose,
William Reese,
Geo. Smith,
Ben Ruff,
Chas. Simmons,
George Rusher,
William Ross,
John Spenlock,
Runyan,
John Snow,
Josiah Richardson,
Zach. Robertson,
James Spencer,
Jonathan Richardson,
Thos. Sexton,
Peter Rawlins,
Chas. Suter,
Anthony Rawlins,
Fortunatus Sydnor,
Peter Ragsdale,
Joseph Ray,
Henry Snow,
Moses Rentfroe,
John Snell,
Joseph Richardson,
Robert Still,
John Robinson,
John Stiff, Sr.,
Wm. Ragsdale,
John Talbot,
Josiah Ramsey,
Rich. Tiths,
Danl. Richardson,
John Thompson,
Stephen Runnals,
Wm. Twiddy,
Saml. Robertson,
Chas. Talbot,
Wm. Simmons,
Wm. Stone,
Abraham Smith,
James Smith,
Henry Piles, Prewitt,
BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
43
Privates.
John Thomas,
Privates. Saml. Woodward,
Rich. Taylor,
John Ward,
Nathan Tate,
Wm. Walker,
Wm. Tate,
Rich. Woodward, Sr.,
Henry Trunk,
Wm. Woodward,
Matt. Talbot,
John Woodward,
Abraham Thompson,
Edward Watts,
John Tinker,
James Wine,
Stephen Towns,
John Watts,
James Talbot,
Isaac Woodward,
Geo. Thomas,
Robert Witt,
Wm. Twedey,
John Wright,
Thos. Thirman,
Aaron Watts,
William Thorp,
Robert Watkins,
David Turner,
James Womack,
Obadiah Turpin,
Jacob Wade,
John Thorp,
Henry Woody,
Richard Timberlake,
Justinian Wills,
Thomas Thorp,
Thomas Rose Walton,
Daniel Tyler,
Thomas Rose Wharton
James Thomas,
Isaac Wade,
William Thomson,
Matthew Whorley,
Patrick Vance,
John Williams,
John Vardeman,
James Weare,
Wm. Whiteside,
James Wade,
Rich. Woodward,
Wm. Yates,
John Watts,
John Yates,
John Wright,
Israel Young.
Wm. Woodie,
The foregoing seven pages copied in part from "Virginia Colo- nial Militia," edited by William Armstrong Crozier, 1651-1776, Bedford County, 1758.
Source : Hening, Vol. 8.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
CAPTAIN BUFORD'S VOLUNTEERS IN 1774
List of Captain Thomas Buford's Volunteer Company, raised in Bedford County, who formed part of the army under General Andrew Lewis at the battle with the Indians at Point Pleasant, the 10th of October, 1774.
Thomas Buford, Captain.
Thomas Dooley, Lieutenant.
Jonathan Cundiff, Ensign.
William Kenedy, Thomas Fliping,
1 Sergeants.
1. Abraham Sharp,
24. Adam Lin,
2. Absolam McClanahan,
25. Thomas Stephens,
3. William Bryant, 26. William Keer,
.4. William McColister,
5. James Scarbara,
28. James Ard,
6. John McClanahan,
29. William Deal,
30. John Bozel,
31. John Welch,
32. Robert Boyd,
33. Thomas Hamrick,
34. James Boyd,
35. James Dale,
13. Augustine Hackworth,
36. Robert Ewing,
14. William Cook,
37. Francis Seed,
38. William Hackworth,
16. Thomas Hall,
39. John Roberts,
17. William Hamrick,
40 Joseph White,
41. Joseph Bunch,
19. John Cook,
42. Jacob Dooley,
43. Thomas Owen,
21. John McGlahlen,
22. John Campbell,
23. William Campbell,
44. John Read,
45. John Wood.
7. James McBride,
8. John Carter,
9. William Overstreet,
10. Robert Hill,
11. Samuel Davis,
12. Zachariah Kennot,
15. Uriah Squires,
18. Nathaniel Cooper,
20. Mr. Waugh,
Nicholas Meade,
27. Gerrott Kelley.
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
VIRGINIA DAY
June 12, 1907
BEDFORD'S GREETING
The Commonwealth of Virginia and the Republic of the United States of America have united to celebrate this, the third century of their beginning. Jamestown is the joint cradle of this State and this nation. Thus, as we participate in these commemorative exer- cises, our hearts flame alike with State and national patriotism. This day of the Exposition has been designated as "Virginia Day." To-day, the children and the descendants of the children of Virginia gather at this birthday party to pay loyal, loving devotion to their glorious mother for her three hundred years of brave endeavor and splendid achievement. Virginia extends to all of you a cordial, warm and loving welcome. To her chidren who have come from afar she gives her blessings and benediction. She places her loving hands on their heads and wishes them all measures of prosperity and happiness. She salutes her many fair daughters in state- hood with maternal pride and joy ; she rejoices at their career and feels that their glories add to her a dearer majesty. To her sister State, who so generously rejoices and celebrates with her, she gives an affectionate greeting, while she thrills anew with that love which cements them into a perpetual union. To her foreign friends and nations who have graced this occasion by their presence and ap- proval she extends the hand of true friendship and hospitality. To this nation, to whose growth and power she has made such vast contribution, her heart goes out in abounding and abiding love.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
GEOGRAPHICAL
The Piedmont division of Virginia, which lies on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, comprises fourteen counties, of which Bedford is one of the largest and most fertile. It con- tains 490,732 acres of land, assessed in 1906 at $3,556,373.03. In 1900 its population was 30,356, of whom 20,617 were white and 9,739 colored. It is bounded on the north by James River, for the distance of eighteen miles ; on the south by Staunton River, for the distance of twenty miles; on the east by Campbell County, for the distance of twenty-one miles, and on the west by the Counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, and Rockbridge, for the distance of thirty- one miles. This western boundary line is in the Blue Ridge Moun- tains, from a point just below Balcony Falls on the James River to Horn's Ford on Staunton River. This elevated western boun- dary forms a barrier against the western winds, varying in ele- vation from 712 feet at Balcony Falls to 4,246 feet at Apple Or- chard. Headforemost Mountain, 3,779 feet; Flat Top (near Peaks of Otter), 4,001 feet; Peaks of Otter, 3,875 feet; thence with Blue Ridge Mountain crossing N. & W. R. R. near Blue Ridge Springs, 1,281 feet ; Foster Knob (Porters Mountain), 2,576 feet; Weavers Knob, 2,615 feet; Greens Knob, 2,563 feet; Stewart's Knob, 2,472 feet, crossing road at Blue Ridge Church, within five miles of Roanoke City, to Horn's Ford, 1,000 feet.
BEDFORD COUNTY IN PIEDMONT VIRGINIA
The map of Virginia by Maj. Jed Hotchkiss will give the home- seeker a comprehensive view of the whole Piedmont section of Vir- ginia, extending from the Potomac River on the northeast along the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains in a southerly direc- tion to the North Carolina line on the southwest, over 200 miles long, and from 20 to 40 miles wide. From the point where the James River breaks through the Blue Ridge to Lynchburg, Bed- ford's northern boundary line begins, following the Piedmont belt, within parallel lines, until you strike Staunton River as it comes through the mountains just south of Roanoke City, which forms the southeast boundary line for some thirty-odd miles. The James empties its waters into the Chesapeake Bay near Norfolk, and
47
BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
Staunton or Roanoke goes into Albemarle Sound in North Carolina, both giving ample facilities for an abundance of fine fish of many varieties, in season, which find shelter in the numerous large and small rivers and creeks that head in Bedford County. Some of them extending back into the interior of the county a distance of more than twenty miles, thus distribute the natural and artificial products of the waters at every man's door without price. With only ordinary care in selecting a location for a fish pond, one's family could have this most excellent food at its command, with less cash than is expended on spring chicken.
IRRIGATION
By referring to the map of Bedford County and its altitudes, you can readily see that there is no section of the country better adapted to modern methods of irrigation. All the waters that flow through the county have their origin in the hills, mountains and peaks that are dotted here and there and everywhere over the entire surface of the county; from the Peaks of Otter, Flat Top, Apple Orchard, Big and Little Otters and Terrapin Mountain on the northwest to the Blue Ridge, Porters Mountains, Weavers Knob, Green Knob and Stewart's Knob on the southwest. The highest of these mountains has an elevation of 4,246 feet above the sea level, and all of them are abundantly supplied with never-failing streams of pure freestone water, which flows during the entire year, with very few exceptions. With these waters perpetually in your midst what is to prevent the progressive, up-to-date farmer from fortifying himself against the contingencies of an unfavor- able season.
The longitude, latitude, altitude, and water-tude being fixed quantities, nothing is left for man but to put forth the latent energy which he should naturally inherit from the Anglo-Saxon race, and bring forth abundant crops.
SOIL
The soil of Bedford County, like its topography, is somewhat varied, and for the sake of convenience the following arbitrary classification may be adopted :
First. The mountain soil, of a dark chocolate color, rich in vege- table matter, the result of the disintegration of the granitic and
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