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^0  9^ 


^vP. 


Historical  Sketch 


Bedford  County 


Virginia 


1753 


1907 


3'lnrr6^(Su4,  no 7 


i 


CoNOVi      2ii     , 


^* 


P>W.  Putnam. 


Historical  Sketch  of  Bedford  County 


MAY   13,   1907 

On  this  day,  three  hundred  years  ago,  the  first  English  settler 
set  foot  on  Virginia  soil  at  Jamestown.  At  this  spot,  appropriate 
ceremonies  are  now  in  process  of  execution  by  our  Governor  and 
other  officials. 

Virginia  extends  greetings  to  her  sons  and  daughters  wherever 
located,  to  her  sister  States,  and  to  all  foreign  countries,  who  unite 
in  celebrating  this,  her  tercentennial  year. 

Though  scarce  of  territory,  depopulated  by  cruel  wars,  scorched 
by  the  torch  of  invading  armies,  and  despoiled  of  accumulating 
values,  she  invites  a  careful  scrutiny  of  what  she  was,  what  slie 
is,  and  what  she  will  be.  under  the  developing  hand  of  modern 
thrift,  and  the  touch  of  that  vitalizing  force,  which  is  character- 
istic of  the  American  people  of  to-day. 

Bedford  County  is  no  exception  to  this  result :  We  now  pro- 
130se  to  give  an  approximately  accurate  picture  of  its  history, 
location,  climate,  altitude,  soil,  products,  water,  scenery,  markets, 
and  undeveloped  water  power,  in  order  to  convey  a  description  of 
this  part  of  Piedmont  Virginia. 

We  desire  to  induce  good  citizens  from  all  sections  to  settle  in 
our  midst,  to  become  identified  with  our  people,  and  to  be  in 
immediate  touch  with  the  traditions,  attractions,  and  prosperity 
of  this  richly  endowed  region. 


4  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

OUR    HISTORIC   HERITAGE 

In  1652  Surry  County,  adjoining  Isle  of  Wight,  was  formed, 
and  from  portions  of  these  two,  the  County  of  Brunswick  was  set 
ajjart  in  1720.  Lunenburg  County  was  formed  from  Brunswick 
in  1746,  and  seven  years  later,  Bedford  County  was  formed  out 
of  Lunenburg.  Bedford  County  was  named  in  honor  of  John 
Eussell,  the  fourth  Duke  of  Bedford,  who  was  Secretary  of  State 
of  Great  Britain  from  February  13th,  1748,  to  June  26th,  1757. 
Bedford  County  was  formed  from  Lunenburg  County  by  act  of 
the  House  of  Burgesses  November,  1753,  to  take  effect  the  10th  of 
May,  1754.  To  pursue  the  landed  relationship  of  Bedford  in 
connection.  Campbell  County  was  formed  from  Bedford,  and 
Franklin  from  Bedford  and  a  part  of  Henry,  in  1784.  In  October, 
1782,  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  passed  an  act  establishing 
the  town  of  Liberty,  which  in  1890  was  changed  to  Bedford  City. 

Bedford,  like  her  mother,  gave  her  territory  to  adjoining 
counties  (embracing  thousands  of  acres),  her  county  seat,  New 
London,  and  a  location  for  Lynchburg,  now  one  of  the  wealthiest 
cities  in  the  Union.  A  site  of  one  hundred  acres,  to  be  called 
"Liberty,'"  was  donated  to  form  the  county  seat  of  Bedford :  it 
was  located  in  the  center  of  the  present  Bedford  City,  and  was  more 
commonly  called  "The  Court  House."  This  land  was  thickly  set 
in  heavy  oak  timber;  naturally  the  first  public  building  was 
constructed  of  hewn  logs.  In  illustration  of  the  primitive  con- 
dition of  things,  we  are  told  of  a  man  who  was  summoned  to  go 
security  for  a  prisoner;  in  spite  of  wifely  opposition  he  went.  On 
reaching  the  log  jail  at  a  late  hour,  he  found  his  own  cow  on  the 
second  story  luxuriously  supping  on  the  sheriff's  oats.  The  jaiJ 
had  been  used  as  a  feed  store  in  the  absence  of  prisoners. 

Bedford,  in  imitation  of  the  county  from  which  she  was  severed, 
gave  of  her  rich  and  productive  territory  to  make  adjoining 
counties.  Campbell  County— which  includes  the  wealthy  and  pro- 
gressive City  of  Lynchburg  with  her  20.000  of  population — was 
cut  from  that  territor}'  on  the  southeast  by  Act  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  November,  1781;  and  subsequently — in  1784 — the 
county  of  Franklin  was  cut  from  the  county  of  Bedford  on  the 
south  side  and  from  Henry  County  on  the  north  side.  Indian 
relics  of  a  very  marked  type  have  been  foimd  in  different  sections 
of  this  country,  and  are  highly  cherished  by  many  of  its  oldest 
inhabitants. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  5 

HISTORY  OF  THE  COUNTY  COURT 

At  the  request  of  a  committee  of  the  board  of  sui^ervisors  ot 
Bedford  Count}'.  Virginia,  the  following  sketch,  which  consists  in 
a  great  degree  of  copies,  verbatim,  of  the  proceedings  of  the  count} 
court  of  the  said  county,  has  been  prepared : 

The  court  was  held  monthly,  at  a  stated  period,  and  was  com- 
posed of  resident  citizens  of  the  county,  and  appointed  justices 
of  the  peace  for  the  county;  usually  five  of  them  constituted  a 
court.  It  had,  originally,  chancery,  common-law  and  criminal 
jurisdiction.  It  was  well  nigh  a  self-perpetuating  body.  When- 
ever one  of  them  resigned,  died,  or  removed,  the  remaining  mem.- 
bers  would  meet  at  the  courthouse,  at  a  term  of  the  court,  and 
elect  a  successor,  who,  on  being  recommended  by  the  court  to 
the  Governor,  was  commissioned  by  His  Excellency,  and  then  ap- 
peared in  court,  and,  on  taking  the  oaths  required  by  law,  took  his 
seat  on  the  bench.  This  court  system  was,  in  great  measure, 
■destroyed  in  its  usefulness  by  the  State  Constitution  in  ]851, 
v.'hich,  thereafter,  made  its  members  elective  and  required  com- 
pensation for  their  services.  It  continued,  however,  in  a  measure, 
until  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1869,  when  it  was 
abolished  and  a  county  judge  substituted.  By  the  subsequent 
Constitution  of  1903  the  county  court  system  was  obliterated. 

The  county  court  judges  were  as  follows : 
First,  John  Austin  Wharton,  1870. 
Second,  Micajah  Davis,  1880. 
Third,  Calloway  Brown,  1892. 

The  last  day  of  the  court  was  the  29th  of  January,  190-4.  when 
it  ceased  to  exist. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution  in  1788  a  high 
■court  of  chancery  was  instituted  and  held  at  Richmond,  one 
judge  only,  elected  by  the  General  Assembly,  presiding.  In  1802 
the  State  was  divided  into  three  chancery  districts  and  a  judge 
elected  by  the  General  Assembly  for  each  district,  and  courts  were 
l.eld  by  each  judge  at  the  several  designated  places  in  the  districts. 
Subsequently  the  State  was  divided  into  four  chancery  districts, 
and  a  judge  elected  for  each  by  the  General  Assembly  to  hold  the 
-courts  at  the    places  designated    in  the  several    districts.     This 


6  .       HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

system  continued  until  1831.  At  an  early  period  District  Courts 
of  Law  were  also  established  and  a  judge  elected  by  the  General 
Assembly  for  each  district,  and  the  courts  were  held  at  certain 
places  designated  in  each  district;  one  of  the  places  was  New 
London,  in  Bedford  County.  This  last  mentioned  system  con- 
tinued until  1809,  when  it  was  changed,  and  superseded  by  what 
was  called  "Superior  Court  of  Law,"  and  the  judge  (elected  by 
the  General  Assembly)  of  each  district  was  thereafter  required 
to  hold  a  term  twice  a  year  in  each  county  in  his  district.  This 
system  continued  until  1831,  when  the  two  systems  (chancery  and 
law)  were  merged  into  one  and  called  "Circuit  Superior  Courts 
of  Law  and  Chancery."  In  1851  the  name  was  changed  to  "Cir- 
cuit Courts,"  and  the  judges  were  required  to  be  elected  1)y  the 
people  of  the  respective  circuits;  but  the  elective  provision  by  the 
people  was  abolished  by  the  Constitution  of  1869  and  the  judges 
were  made  elective  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  that  provision 
was  incorporated  in  the  Constitution  of  1903. 

Memorandum :  That  at  the  house  of  Mathew  Talbot,  Gent.. 
in  the  County  of  Bedford,  on  Monday,  the  27th  day  of  May,  in  the 
twenty-seventh  year  of  the  Eeign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  King 
George  II,  etc.,  Anno  Dom.  1754,  His  Majesty's  Commission  of 
the  Peace  of  this  County,  under  the  seal  of  this  Colony  and, 
Dominion  of  Virginia,  bearing  date  on  the  12th  day  of  May, 
Instant,  directed  to  John  Pane,  Mathew  Talbot,  John  Phelps, 
John  Anthony,  William  Callaway,  John  Smith,  Junr.,  Zachary 
Isbell,  Kobert  Page,  John  Sutton,  Thomas  Pullin,  Edmund 
Manion,  and  Richard  Callaway,  Gent.,  was  openly  read  as  was  in 
like  manner  his  Majesty's  Dedimus  Potestatem  under  the  said  seal 
and  of  the  same  date  for  administering  the  oaths,  &c.  And  there- 
upon pursuant  to  the  said  Dedimus  the  said  John  Pane  took  the 
usual  oaths  to  his  Majesty's  Person  and  Government  and  took  and 
subscribed  the  Abjuration  Oath  and  also  subscribed  the  test  and 
likewise  took  the  oath  of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  of  a  Justice 
of  the  County  Court  in  Chancery,  all  which  oaths  were  admin- 
istered to  him  by  Zachary  Isbell  and  Eobert  Page.  Then  the  said 
John  Pane  administered  all  the  aforesaid  oaths  to  the  said 
William  Callaway,  John  Smith,  Junr.,  Zachary  Isbell,  Robert 
Page,  Thomas  Pullin,  and  Edmund  Manion,  who  took  the  same 
and  subscribed  the  said  Abjuration  Oath  ajid  Test. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  7 

At  a  Court  held  for  Bedford  County  at  the  House  of  Mathew 
Talbot,  Gent.,  May  the  27th,  1754. 

Present:  John  Pane,  William  Callaway,  John  Smith,  Junr., 
Zachary  Isbell,  Eobert  Page,  Thomas  Pullin,  and  Edmund 
M  anion,  Gent.,  Justices. 

Benja.  Howard  produced  a  Com.  to  be  Clerk  of  this  Court 
and  took  the  oaths  to  his  Majesty's  Person  and  Government  and 
the  Abjuration  Oath  and  subscribed  the  same  and  the  Test  and 
Took  the  Oath  of  his  office. 

John  Harvey,  Clement  Eeade,  and  James  Cary,  Gent.,  severally 
took  the  Oaths  to  Government,  &c.,  and  subscribed  the  test,  took 
the  Oath  of  Attorneys  and  admitted  to  practice  in  this  Court  and 
the  said  Eeade  also  SAvorn  his  Majesty's  Atto.  Genl.  in  this  Court. 

[No  court  held  in  June,  1754.] 

At  a  Court  held  for  the  County  of  Bedford  on  the  22nd  day  of 
July,  1754. 

Present:  William  Callaway,  Zachariah  Isbell,  Thomas  Pullin, 
and  Edmond  Manion,  Gentl. 

A  commission  of  the  Peace  from  the  Honorable  Eobert  Din- 
widdle, Esq.,  &c.,  directed  to  Mathew  Talbot  and  others,  Gent., 
as  also  a  Dedimus  Potestatem  for  administering  the  oaths,  &c.. 
were  severally  read.  Whereupon  the  said  John  Sutton  and  Thomas 
Pullin  administered  unto  the  said  John  Phelps  the  oaths  of 
Government  and  who  took  the  same  and  repeated  and  subscribed 
the  test.  And  then  the  said  John  Phelps  likewise  took  the  oath 
of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  a  Justice  of  the  County  Court  in 
Chancery.  And  thereupon  the  said  John  Phelps  administered 
the  said  oaths  of  Government,  &c.,  unto  the  said  William  Calla- 
way, Zachary  Isbell,  John  Sutton,  Thomas  Pullin,  Edmond 
Manion,  Eichard  Callaway,  Eobert  Ewing,  and  Joseph  Eay,  who 
took  the  same  and  repeated  and  subscribed  the  Test.  And  also 
took  the  oath  of  Justices  of  the  County  Court  in  Chancery. 

Present:  John  Phelps,  William  Callaway,  Zachary  Isbell, 
John  Sutton,  Thomas  Pullin,  Edmond  Manion,  Eichard  Calla- 
way, and  Eobert  Ewing,  Gent.,  Justices. 

Joseph  Eay  produced  a  Commission  from  the  Honorable  the 
Governor,  &c.,  to  be  Sheriff  of  this  County,  who  took  the  usual 


8  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

oaths  to  his  Majesty's  Person  and  Government  and  repeated  and 
subscribed  the  Teste,  and  took  the  oath  of  a  Sheriff  and  oath 
appointed  by  Tobacco  Law;  the  said  Ray  having  first  entered 
into  bond  according  to  law,  together  with  Obadiah  Woodson, 
Turner  Hunt  Christian,  Richard  Burks,  John  Partree  Burks,  Ed- 
ward Watts,  Jr.,  James  Walker,  Thomas  Walker,  Benjamin  Orrick, 
Joseph  Mays  and  John  Goad,  his  securities,  and  to  be  recorded. 

Ordered  that  the  Sheriff  wait  on  the  Printer  for  14  complete 
Bodys  of  the  Laws  for  ■  the  use  of  the  Justices  of  this  County 
and  that  he  be  allowed  for  his  trouble  in  bringing  them  up  at  the 
laying  of  the  Levy. 

Ordered  that  application  be  made  to  the  Governor  by  the  Sheriff 
for  a  writ  of  Adjournment  to  adjourn  this  Court  from  the  House 
of  Mathew  Talbot  to  the  House  of  William  Callaway  on  the  main 
joad  on  Buffalo  Eun  near  his  mill. 

Ordered  that  the  rates  of  liquor  for  the  ensuing  year  for  the 
'County  be  established  as  follows  and  observed  by  the  several 
ordinary  Keepers,  viz. : 

Rum  by  the  gallon,  ten  shillens,  if  good  Barbadoes, 

Punch  by  the  quart  made  with  loaf  sugar 1       3 

New  England  rum  pr.  the  gallon 4 

Whiskie    pr.    the    gallon 5 

Bristol  Strong  Beer  pr.  the  bottle 1       6 

Peach  Brandy  pr.  the  gallon 6 

Maderia  wine  pr.  the  gallon 10 

Olaret  by  the  quart 5 

French  Brandy  pr.  the  gallon 20 

Arrack  by  the  gallon 40 

Virginia  eydar  pr.  gallon 2 

English  cydar  pr.  the  quart 1       6 

A   cold    diet 7       1       2 

A  hot  diet  with  small  beer 1 

Diet  for  a  servant o 

Corn  or  oats  pr.  the  gallon 6 

Pasturage  for  a  horse  24  hours 6 

Stableage  and  fodder  pr.  night 6 

liOdging  with   clean   sheets 1       6 

[Note:  The  liquor  rates  were  fixed  by  the  Court  from  year 
to  year  for  many  years  and  finally  abolished.] 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  9 

Court  held  August  26th,  175 Jt. 

William  Callaway  agrees  with  this  Court  to  build  a  Prisun  imme- 
•diately  on  his  land  near  the  main  road  twenty  feet  by  twelve,  with 
square  timbers  the  sides  and  upper  and  under  floors,  and  with  a 
partition,  seven  feet  and  a  half  pitch  upon  his  proper  costs,  if  the 
Court  of  this  County  should  after  being  held  at  that  place  be  re- 
moved and  part  of  Albemarle  on  the  south  side  of  James  Eiver  be 
added  to  this  County  and  in  case  the  said  Courthouse  should  be 
established  on  the  said  Callaway's  Land  he  shall  be  paid  by  the 
County  for  building  the  said  prison,  and  ordered  that  the  Court- 
house be  established  on  the  said  Callaway's  Land,  if  that  part  of 
Albermarle  be  added  to  this  County  and  the  said  Callaway  agrees 
to  give  the  County  one  hundred  acres  of  land  at  the  forks  of  the 
roads  whereon  the  prison  and  Courthouse  are  to  be  built,  fifty  acres 
of  which  the  said  Callaway  agrees  to  make  a  fee  simple  to  the 
■Court  .when  required,  and  the  other  fifty  when  he  shall  obtain  a 
patent  for  the  same  and  the  said  Callaway  doth  agree  to  find  a 
rough  house  to  hold  Court  in  until  the  same  be  established. 

Ordered  that  the  next  Court  for  this  County  be  held  at  the 
house  of  William  Callaway  on  the  road  below  his  Mill  Creek. 

[Note:  The  houses  of  Messrs.  Talbot  and  Callaway  were  in 
or  near  New  London  Town.] 

Court  held  November  25th,  175Jf. 

His  Majesty's  Writ  of  Adjournment  and  Precept  for  adjourning 
this  Court  from  the  said  Talbot's  House  to  the  Courthouse  lately 
erected  in  the  said  County  were  severally  read  and  the  Court 
adjourned  according  to  the  command  thereof. 

Ordered    that    the   Court    be    adjourned    until    to-morrow    10 
o'clock  at  the  Courthouse  at  William  Callaway's. 
Court  held  November  27th,  1751^. 

1754.  A  state  of  the  County  Levy. 

Bedford  County,  Dp.  to  Tobo. 

To  Mr.   Secretary  Nelson ^^^ 

To  the  Clerk  for  Ex-officio  Services l"^^^ 

To  the  Sheriff  his  acct.   for  Public  services 2693 

To  Clk.  his  acct.  for  sundry  services 0699 

To  Ben  Howard  for  Wm.  Hunter  for  record  Books 1091 

To  Mat.  Talbot  his  acct.,  for  dieting  sundry  prisoners 1200 

Forward "^^^^ 


10  HlaiUliWAL    tiKETVU 


Bruuglil    foiWiiid 7512 

To  James  \\  ilsou  his  acct.  lor  a  guard  over  Timothy  Shaw 585 

To  George  Thomas  his  do.  for  Do.  over  John  McFall 260 

To  Daniel  Rains  his  Do.  for  Do.  over  James  Hancock 450 

To  John  Talbot  his  Do.  for  Do.  over  James  Hancock 200 

To  James  Ray  as  Goaler  his  acct.  for  20  days  dieting  E.  Watts . . .  200 

To  Giles  Williams  for  one  old  Wolfs  Head  26  June  1753,  Z.  1 100 

To  Richard   Callaway  Ass.   of  Ambrose  Bryant   for    1   Do.    13   Nov. 

1754,   R.   C 100 

To  ]Mark    Coles    Ass.    of    Thos.    Rentfro    for    one    old    Do.    10    Nov. 

1754,  M.   C 100 

To  Wni.  Irwin  Ass.  of  Wm.  Going  for  1   Do.  29  Aug.   1754,  Z.  I.  .  .  100 

To  Do.  Ass.  of  Henry  Tealer,  for  1  Do.  27  Aug.  1754,  Z.  1 100 

To  Do.  Ass.  of  Mathias  Mounce  July  3,   1754,  Z.   I.  6  young  wolfs 

heads     300 

To  Do.   Ass.   of   John   Philip  Weaver  for  2   old   Wolfs   heads,   Sep* 

7,    1754,   Z.   1 200 

To  Mat.  Talbot  Ass.  of  Jacob  Hendrickson  for  1   old  Do.  25  Sept. 

1754,    I.    P 100 

To  the  Sheriff  for  his  Commission  for  collecting,  a  p.  et 619 

To  deposit  to  be  accounted  for  at  the  next  laying  of  the  Levy 2574 

13500 
Cr. 

1754     By  500  Tiths  at  27  lb  Tobo,  pr.  Poll 13500 


Ordered  that  the  Sheriff  of  this  County  collect  from  each  of 
the  Tithahle  Persons  27  Ih.  Toho.  towards  defraying  the  Levy 
for  this  County, 

[Note:  The  county  levy  was  subsequently  made  annually.] 

George  "WTiite's  Ear  mark,  a  swallow  fork  in  the  left  ear  and  a 
half  moon  under  it  and  a  slit  in  the  right  ear,  ordered  to  be 
recorded. 

[Note:  Such  entries  appear  often  on  tlie  Minute  Book.] 
Court  lield  Marcli  2J^ih,  1755. 

W^illiam  Callaway,  John  Phelps,  Eobert  Baber,  Henry  Tate, 
Prancis  Callaway,  Benjamin  Horsley,  Mathew  Talbot,  Jr.,  William 
Mead.  Joseph  Ray,  Charles  Talbot,  Mark  Cole,  and  Charles  Ewing, 
Gent.,  Vestr\-men,  came  into  Court  and  took  the  usual  oaths  to  his 
Majesty's  Person  and  Government  and  repeated  and  subscribed 
the  Teste. 

We  the  subscribers  do  subscribe  to  be  conformable  to  the  doctrine 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  11 

and  discipline  of  the  Church  of  England  as  the  same  is  by  law 

established.  « 

William  Callaway,  Henry  Tate, 

John  Phelps.  Francis    Callaway, 

Wm.  Mead,  Benja.    Horsley, 

Mat.   Talbot,  Junr.,  Charles  Talbot, 

Jos.  Bay,  Mark   Cole, 

Eobt.  Baber,  Charles  Ewing. 

Court  held  June  23rd,  1755. 
Ordered  that  the  Church  Wardens  of  Kussell  Parish  bind  out 
Jos.  Eichardson's  children  according  to  law. 

[Note:     Such  orders  as  the  above  were  customary.] 
Court  held  November  25th,  1155. 

The  Grand  Jury  returned  and  presented  James  Kobinson  for 
swearing  and  not  having  any  further  presentments  to  make  were 
discharged. 

[jSTote:  Prosecutions  for  profane  swearing  were  not  unusual 
and  fines  with  costs  were  by  no  means  unusual.] 

Eichard  Callaway,  Zachary  Isbell  and  Ben.  Howard  are  ap- 
pointed Trustees  in  behalf  of  this  County,  for  William  Callaway 
to  make  a  deed  in  fee  simple  for  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
trust  to  them  to  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  said  County  accord- 
ing to  a  former  agreement  by  the  said  Callaway  and  they  are  also 
impowered  by  the  Court  to  lay  off  and  sell  the  one  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  lots  or  otherwise  as  this  Court  shall  direct  or  order 
npon  application  by  the  said  Trustees  for  the  use  of  the  said 
County  upon  such  terms  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  said  Court 
for  each  lot  or  parcel  of  land  and  to  make  conveyances  for  the 
same  in  fee  simple  upon  the  sale  of  any  part  or  lot  thereof,  and 
Ben  Howard  is  appointed  Treasurer  to  receive  the  money  for  the 
sale  of  any  of  the  said  land  or  to  take  obligations  for  the  same  as 
the  Court  shall  order,  and  it  is  ordered  that  he  be  accountable 
for  such  money  as  he  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  for  the  sale 
of  the  said  land  to  the  Court  and  pay  the  same  according  to  the 
order  of  the  said  Court.  And  it  is  further  ordered  that  the  said 
Ben  Howard  be  allowed  by  the  said  Court  for  his  trouble  in  Draw- 
ing the  said  deed  of  conveyance  to  the  said  Trustees  and  receiving 


12 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  13 

and  paving  the  money  aforesaid;  and  it  is  ordered  that  in  case 
of  the  death  or  removal  of  any  or  either  of  the  said  trustees  that 
the  Court  shall  have  power  to  appoint  other  Trustee  or  Trustees 
in  the  room  of  his  or  their  death  or  removal  to  make  conveyances 
as  aforesaid. 

Court  held  March  22nd, -1756. 
Michael  Poor  and  Susannah  Poor  in  order  to  prove  their  right 
to  take  up  fifty  acres  of  land  each  made  oath  that  they  were  im- 
ported from  Ireland  about  20  years  ago  into  this  Colony  and 
that  this  is  the  first  time  of  their  proving  the  same  which  is 
ordered  to  be  Cer. 

Court  held  Mmj  2Jfth,  1756. 
Paul   Carrington,   Gent.,  produced   a  commission  to  be  King's 
Attornev  in  this    County  and    took  the  oaths    to  his    Majesty's 
Government,   &c.,   and   the   Abjuration    Oath   and   stibscribed   the 
Test  and  then  took  the  oath  to  his  office. 

[Note :  Mr.  Carrington  became  a  distinguished  man,  was  one  of 
the  committee  of  safety  appointed  July  17th,  1775,  and  Judge  of 
the  Virginia  Court  of  Appeals.] 

Memorandum :     That  at  the  Courthouse  of  Bedford  County,  on 
Monday,  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  May,  1756,  his  Majesty's  Com- 
mission under  the  seal  of  this  Colony,  bearing  date  the  16th  instant, 
directed  to  Mathew  Talbot,  and  others,  or  any  four  or  more  of  them 
to  hear  and  determine  all  treasons,  petit  treasons,  and  murders  and 
other  offences  committed  or  done  by  Hampton  &  Sambo  belonging 
to  John  Payne  of  Goochland  County,  Gent,  was  openly  read,  as 
•was  in  like  manner  his  Majesty's  dedimus  potestatem  under  the 
said  seal  and  of  the  same  date  for  administering  the  oaths,  &c.,  to 
the  said  justices,  by  virtue  of  which  said  Eichard  Callaway  and 
Eobert  Ewing  administered  oaths,  appointed  by  Act  of  Parliament, 
&c.,  and  ]\Iathew  Talbot,  who  took  the  said  oaths  and  repeated  and 
subscribed  the  Test  and  also  took  the  oath  of  Justice  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer  and  thereupon  the  said  Mathew  Talbot  administered  the 
said  oaths  &c.  to  John  Phelps,  Eichard  Callaway,  Eobert  Ewing, 
Mark  Cole  and  Samuel  Harstone,  who  took  the  said  oaths  and  re- 
peated and  subscribed  the  test  and  then  took  the  oaths  of  Justices  of 
Oyer  and  Terminer. 

The  Court  being  thus  constituted,  the  said  Hampton  and  Sambo 


14  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

were  set  to  the  bar  under  the  custody  of  Charles  Talbot,  to  whose 
custody  before  they  were  committed  on  suspicion  of  their  being 
guilty  of  the  felonious  preparing  and  administering  poisonous 
medicines  to  Ann  I[ayne,  and  being  arraigned  of  the  premises  plead- 
ed not  guilty  and  for  their  trial  put  themselves  upon  the  court. 
Whereupon,  divers  witnesses  were  charged  and  they  heard  in  their 
defence  on  consideration  whereof,  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Court  that 
the  said  Hampton  is  guilty  in  manner  and  form  as  is  the  indict- 
ment, therefore,  it  is  considered  that  the  said  Hampton  be  hanged 
by  the  neck  till  he  he  dead  and  that  he  be  afterwards  cut  in  quarters 
and  his  quarters  hung  up  at  the  Cross  roads.  And  it  is  the  opinion 
of  the  Court  that  the  said  Sambo  is  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  there- 
fore, it  is  considered  that  the  said  Sambo  be  burnt  in  the  left  hand, 
and  that  he  also  receive  thirty-one  lashes  on  his  bare  back  at  the 
V/hipping  post;  and  it  is  ordered  that  the  Sheriff  do  immediate 
Exon  thereof,  and  that  he  be  then  discharged. 

Memorandum:  That  the  said  Hampton  is  adjudged  to  forty- 
five  pounds,  which  is  ordered  to  be  cer.  to  the  Assembly. 

[Note:  The  above  judgment  has  been  copied  simply  because  ir 
shows  the  necessity  of  the  day.  It  is  not  supposed  to  have  been 
literally  enforced  further  than  that  the  prisoner,  Hampton,  was 
hung.  At  that  day  negroes  were  ignorant,  and  at  times,  ])erbaps, 
barbarous ;  and  apparent  evidence  of  certain,  terrible  pimishmeni 
was  necessary  to  make  and  keep  some  of  them  yielding,  submissive, 
obedient,  and  dutiful.] 

Court  held  March  29,  1151. 

Deed  from  William  Callaway  and  wife  to  Trustees  of  Bedford* 
County,  ordered  to  be  recorded. 

The  Court  doth  order  that  the  Trustees  for  the  County  lay  out 
the  land  belonging  to  the  said  County  in  lots  of  half  acre  each,  as 
long  again  as  wide,  to  be  sold  for  £1.1.8  each  lot  to  be  paid  on  pur- 
chasing the  lot  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  County  and  that  the  said 
Trustees  make  a  deed  in  fee  simple  to  the  purchasers  with  proviso 
that  they  build  a  house  framed,  twenty  by  sixteen,  on  such  lot  with- 
in one  year  after  purchasing  the  same,  and  a  brick  or  stone  chim- 
ney within  four  years;  otherwise,  the  said  lot  of  land  to  revert  to 
the  County  from  the  person  failing  to  improve  the  same  according 
to  the  said  convevance.     And  that  the  subscribers  for  the  said  lots 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  15 

after  being  numbered  draw  for  their  lots  at  Ma}-  Court  and  that  the 
said  Town  be  called  by  the  name  of  New  London. 

[Note :  The  Town  was  beautifully  located  on  elevated  table  land 
and  commanded  superb  views  of  the  Blue  Eidge  range  of  ]\Iountain~ 
and  the  long  spurs  stretching  therefrom  in  various  directions.] 

Court  held  August  27tli,  1759. 

The  King  v.  Bryant,  Compt.  for  divulging  false  News. 

On  hearing  both  parties  ordered  that  the  defendant  be  fined  one 
thousand  pounds  of  Tobo.  and  costs,  and  that  the  Sheriff  take  hirr; 
into  custody  until  he  pay  the  same  and  costs  and  give  security  for 
his  good  behavior  according  to  law. 

Court  held  June  23rd,  1761. 
Leave  is  granted  the  inhabitants  of  Bedford  County  to  build  a 
meeting  house  on  Sherwood  Waltons  land  on  the  wagon  road  from 
the  Peaks  of  Otter  to  Warrick. 

Court  held  November  27th.  176Jf. 

Booker  Smith,  who  was.  summoned  to  appear  at  this  Court  to 
answer  such  things  as  should  be  alleged  against  him  for  speaking 
■disrespectfully  of  the  Court,  appeared  and  sundry  witnesses  being 
examined  and  the  said  Smith  heard  in  his  defence.  On  considera- 
tion whereof,  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Court  that  the  said  Smith 
has  offered  a  contempt  to  the  Court  in  speaking  several  disrespect- 
ful words  against  several  of  the  members  of  the  said  Court,  where- 
upon, it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Court  that  the  said  Booker  Smith  be 
fined  in  the  sum  of  ten  pounds  and  costs.  It  is  further  ordered 
ihat  he  give  security  for  his  good  behavior  in  the  sum  of  100  poundi^ 
with  two  securities  in  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds  each.  , 

Gross  Scruggs,  Paul  Carrington  and  Booker  Smith  severally 
undertook  for  Booker  Smith's  good  behavior  according  to  the 
above  order. 

Court  held  March  26th,  1765. 

The  rates  of  liquor  for  this  year  are  as  follows,  viz. : 

Barbadoes   rum   p.   gallon 10 

"Wine   p.    gallon 10 

Bumpo  with  white  sugar  and  3  gills  of  rum  p.  quart 1        3 

French  brandy  p.  gallon 10 

Virginia    Brandy 8 

Ari-ack     40 


16  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Virginia    cider   p.   gallon 1        3^ 

Virginia   strong  beer   p.   gallon 2 

A  diet  with  small  beer 1 

Diet  for  a  servant 6 

Lodging  4d.  if  but  2  in  one  bed  and  where  more  nothing. 

Corn  and  oats  p.  gallon 6- 

Stableage    and    fodder & 

Pasturage    4 

Court  held  June  2^tli,  1766. 

On  the  motion  of  Sundry  Presbyterian  Protestant  Dissenters  of 
this  County  the  New  meeting  house  lately  erected  near  the  Six 
Mile  tree  is  set  apart  for  the  worship  of  God  and  established 
accordingly. 

Court  held  July  23rd,  1766. 

Ordered  that  a  Court  house  be  built  in  this  County,  to-wit;, 
twenty-four  by  thirty-six  feet,  12  feet  pitch,  two  12  feet  square 
rooms  with  a  brick  chimney,  a  fire  place  in  each  room  (wainscoted 
4  feet  high  and  plastered  above  the  wainscoting  to  be  well  wrought 
with  six  glass  windows, — and  Benjamin  Howard,  William  Mead, 
William  Irvine,  Charles  Lynch,  Isham  Talbot,  and  Guy  Smith 
are  appointed  to  treat  with  a  workman  to  build  the  same,  on  the 
courthouse  lot  and  that  any  three  or  more  of  them  advertise  the 
said  house  to  be  let  at  October  court  next,  one-half  of  the  money 
to  be  levied  at  the  next  laying  the  Levy  and  the  other  at  the  laying 
the  Levy  in  1767 ;  the  house  to  be  underpinned  with  brick  one 
foot  and  a  half  from  the  ground,  the  bench  to  be  built  in  a 
quarter  circle,  with  a  bar  and  two  sheriffs  desks,  a  Clerk's  table, 
and  that  the  floor  from  the  bar  to  the  bench  be  raised  and  laid 
with  plank  and  the  other  to  be  laid  with  brick  and  tile  and  any 
other  matter  the  trustees  shall  see  necessary  they  are  to  treat  for 
in  regard  to  the  said  house  not  yet  mentioned. 

[Note:  The  above  was  the  first  coiirthouse  built  by  the  County 
and  was  in  New  London  Town.  It  has  long  since  been  pulled 
down  and  destroyed.  It  was  standing  in  1856  and  a  picture  of  it 
may  be  seen  in  the  "Historical  Collections  of  Virginia,"  published 
by  Henry  Howe  in  1856.] 

Court  held  Februarij  25th,  1772. 

James  Steptoe  produced  a  commission  of  the  honorable  Thomarf 
Nelson  appointing  him  clerk  of  this   County  and  was  approved 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  17 

and  received  by  the  Court  and  thereupon  took  the  usual  oaths  to 
his  Majesty's  Person  and  Government  repeated  and  subscribed 
the  Test  and  also  took  the  oath  of  a  County  Court  Clerk. 

Court  held  Jime  22ncl,  1772. 

Mr.  John  Talbot  is  appointed  to  bring  up  from  Williamsburg 
all  the  necessary  Acts  of  Assembly  for  which  he  is  to  be  allowed 
at  the  laying  of  the  next  County  Levy. 

Court  held  May  23rd,  177 J^. 

George  Dooley  produced  a  negro  boy  in  Court  adjudged  to  be 
eight  years  of  age  also  a  negro  girl  adjudged  to  l)e  twelve  years 
of  age. 

[Xote:  Why  this  was  done  the  record  does  not  explain.  It 
was  of  frequent  occurrence  about  this  time.] 

Court  held  January  23rd,  1775. 

A  petition  setting  forth  the  inconveniences  attending  the  giving 
treats  and  entertainments  at  and  Ijefore  elections  of  the  repre- 
sentatives of  this  Colony,  to  the  Honorable  speaker  and  the  House 
of  Burgesses  that  the  said  may  be  enacted,  read  and  ordered  to  be 
certified  by  the  Court. 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  Monday  the  22nd  day  of  July,  1776, 
at  the  Court  house  of  the  County  of  Bedford,  William  Mead  and 
John  Talbot,  Gent.,  two  Justices  mentioned  in  former  commission 
of  the  peace  for  the  said  County,  administered  the  oath  prescribed 
by  an  ordinance  of  convention  of  this.  Colony  passed  the  third 
day  of  July,  instant,  to  Eobert  Ewing,  Gent.,  who  took  the  same 
and  then  the  said  Eobert  Ewing  administered  the  said  oaths  to 
Charles  Talbot,  William  Mead,  Samuel  Hairston,  Eichard  Stith, 
John  Fitzpatrick,  Guy  Smith,  James  Callaway,  Charles  Lynch  and 
John  Talbot,  Gent.  The  Court  being  thus  constituted  the  Clerk 
and  his  Deputy  and  the  Sheriff  and  his  Deputies  qualified  under 
the  recent  ordinances  of  the  convention. 

Court  held  July  27th,  1779. 
Harry  Innis  and  Bourne  Price,  Gent.,  are  appointed  to  inspect 
into  the  Counterfeit  money  in  circulation  in  this  County  as  the 
law  directs. 


18  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Court  held  April  23rd,  1782. 

William  Callaway,  Gent.,  is  appointed  to  make  a  survey  of  the 
County  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  centre  thereof  where 
to  fix  the  Courthouse  and  other  public  buildings.  It  is  the  opinion 
of  the  Court  that  the  said  William  Callaway  begin  at  the  centre 
of  the  line  dividing  this  County  from  Campbell  and  thence  cross- 
ing in  the  centre  of  a  line  to  1)e  run  parallel  with  and  below  the 
Blue  Eidge  Mountains  from  James  Eiver  to  Staunton  Eiver  as 
high  up  as  Capt.  Isham  Talbot's,  and  that  he  be  allowed  for  the 
same  at  the  laying  of  the  next  County  Levy. 

Court  held  July  22nd,  1782. 

William  Mead,  William  Leftwich,  William  Trigg,  Henry  Buford, 
James  Buford,  and  Charles  Gwatkin,  Gent.,  are  appointed  to  view 
a  place  on  Bramblett's  Eoad  for  the  purpose  of  fixing  the  Court- 
house and  other  public  buildings  and  make  their  report  to-morrow 
10   o'clock. 

Court  held  July  23rd,  1782. 

The  Gentlemen  appointed  yesterday  to  view  a  place  on  Bramb- 
lett's Eoad  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  Courthouse  and  other 
public  buildings  reported  as  their  opinion  that  the  most  proper 
place  is  in  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  Bramblett's 
Toad  this  day  given  to  the  County  by  William  Downey  and  Joseph 
Fuqua.  Whereupon  the  Court  is  of  the  opinion  and  doth  order 
and  direct  the  Courthouse  and  other  public  buildings  to  be  erected 
thereon  accordingly,  reserving  to  the  said  William  Downey  and 
Joseph  Fuqua  one-half  acre  lot  each  to  be  laid  off  and  assigned  to 
them  by  the  Trustees;  William  Mead,  William  Callaway,  and 
William  Leftwich,  Gent.,  are  appointed  Trustees  to  superintend 
and  lay  off  the  land  in  lots  and  make  return  in  Court. 

James  Buford,  Gent.,  is  appointed  to  contract  with  some  proper 
person  to  build  a  Courthouse,  Prison  and  stocks.  The  Courthouse 
to  be  of  logs  20  feet  by  30  in  the  clear  with  a  partition  across  of 
ten  feet, — twelve  feet  pitch  with  a  brick,  stone  or  dirt  chimney; 
the  floors  to  be  rough  laid,  and  the  house  covered  with  pegged 
shingles.  The  prison  to  be  20  feet  by  10  in  the  clear  with  a 
partition  in  the  middle,  covered  as  the  Courthouse,  for  which 
he  is  to  be  allowed  at  the  laying  of  the  next  County  Levy. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  -  19 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  oider  that  a  courthouse  was  ordered 
to  be  erected.  It  seems  to  have  been  built  between  the  23rd  of 
July,  1782,  and  the  26th  of  August,  1782,  as  the  court  was  held 
in  it  on  the  latter  date.  The  logs  for  the  structiire  were,  no 
doubt,  cut  right  on  the  ground  where  the  building  was  erected.  A 
plan  for  a  town  embracing  the  above  one  hundred  acres  was  sur- 
veyed and  a  plat  made,  which  is  recorded  in  Deed  Book  W,  at 
page  116,  and  in  October,  1782,  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia 
passed  an  act  vesting  the  title  to  the  said  one  hundred  acres  in 
certain  trustees  for  the  benefit  of  the  county,  and  thereby  also 
''established  a  town  by  the  name  of  Liberty."  It  was  just  one 
year  subsequent  to  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  and 
that  probably  inspired  the  name,  sweet  to  every  patriot,  and  the 
first  location  in  history  to  bear  the  name. 

Court  held  April  28th,  1783. 
Liquor   rates, 

Diet     1       3 

"     cold 8 

Lodging  p.  night   with   clean   sheets. 8 

"          without 6 

Rum    p.    gallon 10 

Brandy  p.     "      10 

Whiskey        "     8 

Small     Beer 1       3 

Cider    p.    Gallon 2       6 

Stableage  24  hours 8 

Fodder    p 2 

Corn    p.    gallon 6 

Pasturage  24   hours 6 

Court  held  February  23rd,  1789. 

Whereas  James  Callaway  by  his  singular  services  as  a  magistrate 
in.  this  County  before  its  division  and  in  Campbell  County- 
services  from  whence  he  has  lately  removed — merits  the  attention 
of  the  public.  It  is  the  opinion,  therefore,  of  the  Court  that  ho 
be  recommended  as  presiding  Member  in  the  County  Court  of 
Bedford.* 


*Unusual,  and  a  high  compliment  to  Mr.  Callaway. 


20  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Court  held  March  23rd,  1789. 

Eclinimd  Winston,  Esq.,  qualified  as  Judge  of  the  District 
Courts  according  to  law. 

Court  held  May  21th,  1789. 

James  Callaway,  Gent.,  is  unanimously  appointed  the  Presiding 
Magistrate  of  this  Court,  and  the  same  is  ordered  accordingly. 

Court  held  July  27th,  1789. 

On  the  motion  of  Eobert  Clark,  Gent.,  who  undertook  the 
building  of  a  Courthouse,  he  having  nearly  completed  the  work  and 
representing  to  this  court  that  the  same  was  at  his  risk,  it  is  the 
opinion  of  the  Court  that  the  same  bo  received  on  a  condition, 
nevertheless  that  the  said  Eobert  Clark  finish  the  work  according 
to  the  articles  of  agreement,  or  make  every  necessary  deduction  for 
any  small  deficiency. 

Court  held  August  2Jf.th,  1789. 

The  Honorable  Edmund  Winston  came  into  Court  and  took  the 
oath  prescribed  by  Act  of  Congress  entitled  An  Act  to  regulate 
the  time  and  manner  of  administering  certain  oaths. 

Court  held  September  22nd,  1800. 

On  motion  of  Jolin  Otey  leave  is  granted  to  build  a  meeting 
house  on  the  Courthouse  lot  beyond  the  spring. 

[Note:  This  was  the  first  meeting  house  built  in  or  near  to  the 
county  town  called  "Liberty,"  Col.  Otey  bought  a  lot  immediately 
north  of  the  county  land  and  had  a  Baptist  meeting  house  built 
(by  subscription)  on  it  of  brick.  It  is  now  occupied  as  a  private 
dwelling,  though  it  was  used  many  years  as  a  church.  See  deed 
of  record.] 

After  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  promulgated  it  is 
evident  from  the  orders  of  the  court  from  time  to  time,  reaching 
in  fact  to  1790,  that  the  whole  country  was  in  a  stir.  The  courts 
were  kept  busy  in  taking  care  of  and  providing  for  the  families 
of  the  soldiers  that  were  killed,  wounded,  or  worn  out  by  the 
casualties  of  wars  with  the  Indians,  the  French  and  the  British, 
in  all  which  wars  Bedford  County  had  her  quotas,  as  the  records 
show.  But  it  did  not  stop  here.  Soldiers  from  other  counties 
passing  and  repassing  to  the  east  and  the  south  through  the 
county,  as  well  as  our  own,  had  to  bo  and  were  provided  for  to 
the  extent  of  the  ability  of  the  people. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  21 

In  1789  a  new  courthouse  was  erected  of  brick,  a  much  more 
imposing,  convenient,  and  comfortable  building,  and  that  stood 
until  the  year  1834,  when  it  was  torn  down  and  the  present 
handsome  structure  was  erected  in  its  place. 

/The  plan  of  New  London  town  is  recorded  in  Deed  Book  A,  at 
page  134,  and  with  it  a  memorandum  showing  the  names  of  pur- 
chasers of  lots  in  the  town  as  follows : 

Colo.   William    Callaway ...  .Lot  1 

James    Callaway "  2 

Richard    Dogget "  3 

Alexander    Sawyers "  13 

William    Bumpass "  14 

John    Thompson "15 

Richard    Dogget.. "  16 

William    Ingles "  17 

William     Christian "  23 

Ambross    Bramblett "  28 

Thomas    Walker "  26 

Do.              "  27 

Alexander    Boreland "  32 

Mathew    Talbot "  29 

Do "  21 

Patrick    Henecie "  31 

Colo.    Rd.    Callaway "  30 

John    Thompson "  40 

William    Ingles "  39 

Richard    Doggett "  38 

Alexander    Sawyers "  37 

Do. "  36 

John    Callaway "  35 

John    Payne "  4 

Howard  &   Mead "  5 

William    Mead "  6 

Nattl.    Gest "  8 

Ct.    house "  10 

James    Nuil "  18 

Do "  19 

Colo.    John    Smith "  11 

Henry    Darnald "  12 

Joshua    Early "  20 

Mead   &  Howard "  45 

James    Nuil "  44 

Howard  &   Mead "  41 

Nattl.    Gest "42 

Howard  &  Mead "  43 


22  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

LIST  OF  LAWYEFIS 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  persons  that  qualified  in  the  County 
Court  between  1754  and  1829,  inclusive,  to  practice  as  attorneys 
at  law,  and  the  respective  dates  of  qualification.  Courthouse  at 
Xew  London  up  to  1782. 

John  James  Allen,  May  25,  1819.  Subsequently  President 
Supreme  Court  of  Appeals  of  Virginia. 

Christopher  Anthony,  Jr.,  February  26.  1810. 

Thomas  Bott,  September  22,  1800. 

Wm.  B.  Banks,  June  22,  1801. 

James  Breckenridge,  February  22,   1804. 

Samuel  Branch,  May  22,  1809. 

James  Benagh,  May  32,  1809.     Clerk,  Lynchburg. 
>  Thomas  Brown,  August  28,  1826. 

Henry  M.  Bowyer,  August  26.  1828.     Bo't. 

James  Cary,  May  27,  1754. 

Charles  Cupples,  July  22,  1754. 

Paul  Carrington,  June  23,  1755.  King's  Attorney  from  May 
24,  1756. 

Thomas  Carr,  February  25,  1760. 

William  Cowan,  September  23,  1780. 

Wm.    Sidney   Crawford,   April   28,    1780. 

Christopher  Henderson  Clark,  May  26,  1788. 

Thomas  M.  Clark,  February  27,  1797. 

Samuel  L.  Crawford.  March  24,  1800. 

James  Clarke,  October  28,  1807. 

William  E.  Coupland,  April  24,  1809. 

William  Cook,  March  25,  1812. 

Alexander  Clements,  November  23,  1812. 

Jacob  N.  Cardozo.  January  26,  1824. 

Eichard  K.  Cralle,  November  23,  1829.     Lynchburg. 

Ephriam  Dunlop,  February  27,  1771. 

Walker  Daniel,  July  25,  1780.  Settled  in  Danville.  Kentucky,, 
killed  by  Indians  1784. 

John  Dabney,  May  28,  1792.  Judge  Superior  Court  of  Lavr 
of  Bedford  County  1813. 

Wilson  Davenport.  August  26,  1796. 

Chiswell  Dabney.  July  22,  1811.     Lynchburg. 

Samuel  E.  Davis,  August  27,  1821. 


BEDFORD    rOUNTY,    VA.  23 

Anthony  Dibrell,  March  26,  1827.     Methodist  Preacher. 

John  Eliot,  June  27,  1769. 

Powhatan  Ellis.  May  24,  1813. 

David  R.  Edley,  March  22,  1824.     Lynchljurg. 

Edmund  Fontaine,  December  22,  1788. 

Philip  Gooch,  March  27,  1792. 

Edward  Graham,  May  25,  1801. 

James  B.  Gilmer,  August  28,  1809. 

William  B.  Gooch,  July  24,  1815. 

John  Gains,  November  24,  1817. 

Peachy  E.  Gilmer,  January  26,  1818.     Appd.  State's  Attorney, 
June  22,  1818. 

Samuel  Garland.  March  27,   1820.     Lynchburg. 

Maurice  H.  Garland,  June  26,  1826. 

miliam  L.  Goggin,  April  28,  1828.     Bedford. 

John  Harvey,  May  27,  1754. 

Peter  Hogg,  August  25,  1760.     Captain  Co.  Eangers,  1758. 

John  Harvey,  March  22,  1768. 

George  Hancock,  August  26,  1782. 

Andrew  Hambleton,  February.  1804. 

Grenville  Henderson,  July  24.  1809. 

Arthur  Hopkins,    March  28,    1814.     Moved  to    Alabama   and 
became  Judge. 

Andrew  Hamilton,  November  27,  1815. 
.-Thomas  A.  Holcombe,  July  22,   1816.     Lynchburg. 

Burr  Harrison,  March  23,  1818. 
'    James  Hendrick,  February  22,  1819. 

Tipton  B.  Harrison,  February  28,  1820. 

Tipton  B.  Harrison,  July  22,  1821. 

Peyton  Harrison,  July  26.  1824. 

Jesse  C.  Harrison,  May  23,  1825. 

Harry  Innis,  October  27,  1778.     Deputy  State's  Attorney  and 
Excheator.     Eemoved  to  Kentucky. 

Edmund  Irvine,  March  22,   1824. 

Edward  Johnston,  May  26.  1828.    Circuit  Court  Judge,  Bo't.  Cir. 

Marshall  Jones,  June  22,  1829. 

George  Lyne,  June  27,  1769. 

Eobert  Lawson,  June  27,  1769. 

John  T.  Leftwich,  March  27.  1826. 

Thomas  A.  Latham,  August  28,  1826. 


24 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  25 

Eiehmond  T.   Lacy,  October  22,   1827. 

Gideon  Marr,  May  23,  1757. 

John  May,  Feb.  27,  1770. 

Haynes  Morgan,  March  26,  1771.  Sergeant-Major  SOth  Biitish 
Eegiment,  1758,  seven  years. 

Thomas  Miller,  September  23,  1780. 

James  McCampbell,  November  24,   1794. 

John  Madison,  May  23,  1797. 

John  Moseley,  November,  1804. 

James  S.  MciVlester,  August  23,  1813. 

Callohill  Mennis,  February  23,  1818.     Bedford. 

Hugh  Meenan,  August  25,  1823. 

Daniel  Marr,  August  25,  1828. 

Charles  L.   Mosby,   November   23,   1829.     Lynchburg. 

Thomas  Nash,  January  27,   1755. 

George  W.  Nelson,  November  27,  1822. 

James  Patterson,   September  26,   1796. 

James  W.  Pegram,  January  23,  1826. 

Clement  Eeade,  May  27,  1754.  Sworn  King's  i\.ttorney.  May 
27th,  1754. 

Clement  Eead,  Jr.,  July  25,  1757. 

Isaac  Eead,  Feb.  26,  1765.  King's  Attorney  from  Februarv 
26th.  1765. 

James  Eisque,  November  25,  1794. 

Archibald  Eobinson,  July  33,   1798. 

Benjamin  Eice,  December  28,  1801. 

AVilliam  Eadford.  November  23,  1807.     Bedford. 

George  W.  Eonald,  August  27,  1810. 

William  E.  Eoane,  May  23,  1814.     Lynchlmrg. 

William  Elves,  March  28,  1815. 

Nathan  Eead,  Jr.,  April  26,  1819. 

Nathaniel  Elves,  February  23,  1824. 

Ferdinand  W.  Eisque,  June  22,  1829.     Lynchl)urg. 

Alexander  Stewart,  March  26,  1792. 

Thomas  H.  Spencer,  November  28,  1796. 

William  P.  Skillern,  November  26,  1798. 

James  Stewart,  March  25,  1799. 

John  Hill  Smith,  November  29,  1814. 

Archil>ald  Stuart,  May  28,  1816. 

Edmund  N.  Sale,  February  28,  1820. 


^ 


26  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

John  F.  Sale.  October  22,  1821.     Bedford. 

Baldwin  L.  Scisson,  March  24,  1823. 

John  Todd,  June  25,  1771. 

Allen  Taylor,  November  27,  1815. 

George  Townes,  July  32,  1816.     Pittsva. 

George  Tucker,  February  23,  1818.  Professor  of  Law,  Univer- 
sity of  Virginia. 

John  D.  Urquhart,  February  28,  1814. 

James  Verell,  March  26,  1792. 

Xicholas  Yanstarem,  August  26,  1799. 

William  Watts.  May  22,  1864. 

Edmund  Winston,  June  26,  1764.  Judge  Superior  Court  of 
Law  of  Bedford  County,  1809. 

John   Williams,   October   22,   1765. 

John  Walker.  July  28,  1772.  ^ 

Edward  Watts,  October,  1804.     Eoanoke. 

Samuel  Wiatt,  January  26,  1807. 

George  W.  Wright,  April  22,  1816. 

Giles  Ward,  August  27,  1822. 

Peter  Walker,  October  27,  1823.  ■ 

John  A.  Wharton,  July  24,  1826.     Bedford. 

George  W.  Wilson,  November  26,  1827.     Bo't. 

Henry  C.  Ward,  June  22,  1829. 

The  judges  of  the  Superior  Courts  of  Law.  of  the  Circuit 
Superior  Courts  of  Law  and  Chancery,  and  of  the  Circuit  Courts 
of  Bedford  County  were  as  follows : 

Edmund  Winston,  1809. 

John  Dabney,  1813. 

William  Daniel,  1816. 

Daniel  A.  Wilson,  1829. 

Xorborne  M.  Taliaferro,  1846. 

George  H.  Gilmer,  1853. 

Gustavus  A.  Wingfield,   1861. 

Lindsay  M.  Shumaker,   1869.     Military  appointee. 

Gustavus  A.   Wingfield,   1870. 

John  D.  Horsley,  1887. 

James  A.  Dupuy,  1892. 

John  Eandolph  Tucker,   1901. 

Henry  E.  Blair,  1904. 

Cephas  B.  Moomaw,  1905. 

AVilliam  W.  Mof^eH.  1906. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  21 

ECCLESIASTICAL  STATISTICS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  who  were 
authorized  by  the  County  Court  between  1754  and  1829,  inclusive, 
to  celebrate  the  rite  of  marriage,  the  date  of  the  order  conferring 
the  authority,  and  the  denomination  to  which  they  severally  be- 
longed. 

Rev.  John  Brander,  see  Deed  Book  B,  page  123,  Deed  from 
Benjamin  Arnold,  of  Buckingham  County,  to  Rev.  John  Brander, 
minister  of  Eussell  Parrish,  dated  December  28th,  1762;  see  will 
book  A,  page  310,  etc.,  etc. 

John  Anthony,  August  28.  1781.     Baptist  Society. 

John  Ayers,  October  26,  1789.     Methodist  Church. 

Henry  Alley,  June  24,  1822.     Methodist  Church. 

Abner  Anthony,  May  28,  1827.     United  Baptists. 

William  Bramblett,  September  22,  1777.     Baptist  Preacher. 

Joshua  Burnett,  February  28,  1803.     Baptist  Church. 

Caleb  J^.  Bell,  May  27,  1813.     Methodist  Church. 

Joseph  Burroughs,  November  23,  1819.     Baptist  Church. 

Samuel  Baker.  October  22,  1798.  Methodist  Church,  took  oath- 
of  Fidelity,  which  was  ordered  to  be  certified. 

John  Crumpacker,  June  24,  1799.     Dunkard  Church. 

Abraham  Crumpacker,  June  24,  1799.     Dunkard  Church. 

Joel  Crumpacker,  November  28,  1808.     Dunkard  Church. 

Nicholas  H.  Cobbs,  July  26,  1824.    Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 

Joseph  Drury,  September  27,  1790.     Baptist  Church. 

William  Douglas,  April  27,  1801.  Church  not  mentioned,. 
Baptist. 

James  Denton,  September  28,  1801.     Church  not  mentioned. 

Joseph  Dunn,  September  28,  1801.     Church  not  mentioned. 

Alfred  Henry  DeShield,  November  25,  1817.  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church. 

William  Early,  June  22.  1795.     Methodist  Church. 

Jesse  Fears,  February  25,  1793.     Church  not  mentioned. 

Isham  Fuqua,  June  27,  1796.     Baptist  Church. 

William  Fuqua,  October  23,   1815.     Baptist  Church. 

John  White  Holt,  July  25,  1785.  Protestant  Episcopal  Church- 
Mr.  Holt  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  25th  of  August.  1777. 

Jeremiah  Hatcher,  June  27,  1785.     Baptist  Church. 


28  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Andrew  Hunter,  January  25-,  1790.     Methodist  Church. 
John  Hall,  October  27,  1794.     Baptist  Church. 
William  Harris,  JSTovember,  1805.     Baptist  Church. 
Samuel  Hunter,  June  23,  1817.     Methodist  Church. 
William  Johnson,  April  22,  1782.     Baptist  Societ3^ 
William  Jolmson,  Sr.,  October  27,  1794.     Baptist  Church. 
Edward  Jennings,  October  24,  1808.     Baptist  Church. 
William  Jean,  June  27,  1808.     Church  not  mentioned. 
John  Kelly.  November  23,  1819.     Baptist  Church. 
William  Leftwich,  Jr.,  October  24,  1808.     Baptist  Church. 
Garnett    Lee,  June  24,  1811.     Methodist  Church. 
James  Leftwich,  February  27,  1826.     Baptist  Church. 
Joshua  Leigh,  March  28,  1827.     Methodist  Church. 
James  Mitchell,  September  26,  1783.     Presbyterian  Church. 
Joseph  Moon,  May  27,  1799.     Methodist  Church. 
William  Moorman,  January,  1804.     Church  not  mentioned. 
James  H.  L.  Moorman,  February,  1805.    Church  not  mentioned. 
James  Morris,  January  27,  1812.     Methodist  Church. 
Josiah  Morton,  October  25,  1813.     Methodist  Church. 
John  Paup,  November  26,  1787.     :Methodist  Church. 
Charles  Price,  July  27,  1795.    Methodist  Church. 
James  Pucker,  August  28,  1781,  Baptist  Society. 
David  Eice,  November  26,  1781.     Presbyterian  Church. 
George  Pucker,  February  28,  1803.     Baptist  Church. 
Daniel  Pussell,  July  27,  1829.     Presbyterian  Church. 
Nathaniel  Shrewsberry,  March  25,  1782.     Baptist  Society. 
Nathaniel  Shrewsberry,  September  26,  1785.     Baptist  Church. 
John  Sledd,  October,  1805.     Church  not  mentioned. 
James  Scott,  February  22,  1808.     Methodist  Church. 
William  Shands,  March  28,  1808.     Methodist  Church. 
Alexander  Sale,  May  31,  1810.     Methodist  Church. 
William  H.  Starr,  April  26,  1824.     Methodist  Church. 
James  Turner,  January  28,  1793.     Presbyterian  Church. 
Wilson  Turner,  Fel)ruary  28,  1803.     Baptist  Church. 
Enoch  Terrv,  June  25,  1810.     Baptist  Church. 
Joshua  Taylor,  June  25,  1810.     Baptist  Church. 
Peyton  Welsh,  November  23,  1812.     Methodist  Church. 
Daniel  AVitt,  December  27,  1824.     Baptist  Church. 
Jesse  Witt,  Jr.,  October  22,  1827.     United  Baptists. 
Zachariah  Worley,  August  25,  1828.     Baptist  Church. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  29 

The  first  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  Bedford  County  of  whom 
there  is  any  record  was  the  Eev.  John  Brander,  who  belonged  to 
the  Established  Church  of  Great  Britain.     He  was  a  bachelor. 

The  first  deed  to  him  is  dated  the  28th  of  December,  1762,  and 
was  made  by  Benjamin  Arnold  of  Buckingham  County,  conveying 
t(.  "Eevd.  Mr.  John  Brander,  Minister  of  Eussell  Parrish  in  the 
County  of  Bedford  and  his  successors  for  the  use  of  the  Parrish" 
four  hundred  and  ninety-six  acres  of  land  in  Bedford  County,  and 
it  was  paid  for  by  the  Church  Wardens.  It  was  subsequently  sold 
by  the  Trustees  and  conveyed  to  Rev.  John  White  Holt,  Clerk  of 
Eussell  Parish,  who  also  belonged  to  the  Established  Church. 

Mr.  Brander  acquired  lands  in  his  own  right  in  1772  and  1773, 
two  tracts  in  Bedford  County,  amounting  to  fourteen  hundred  acres, 
and  quite  a  number  of  slaves  and  other  property.  He  made  his 
will,  dated  March  27th,  1777,  which  was  probated  28th  of  July, 
1778.  He  devised  his  whole  estate  to  his  nephew,  John  Brander, 
who  then  resided  in  the  county,  charging  it  with  the  payment  of 
certain  legacies. 

January  27th,  1777,  the  court  entered  the  following  order: 

"Ordered  that  it  be  certified  to  his  Excelly.  the  Governor  that 
John  Brander  junior  &  Council  &  James  McMurray  subjects  to 
the  King  of  Great  Britain  &  residing  in  this  County  are  Agent:^ 
for  two  Companies  of  Merchants  in  Great  Britain,  have  not  mani- 
fested a  friendly  Disposition  to  the  American  Cause,  and  are  l^oth 
unconnected  with  Wives  or  Children  in  this  State." 

On  7th  of  October,  1779,  the  whole  of  Mr.  Brander's  estate  was 
escheated  to  the  commonwealth,  but  the  records  do  not  show  what 
became  of  it  further  than  the  inquisition  of  escheatment  made 
by  the  jury  and  recorded  in  the  clerk's  office. 

A  Eemarkable  Deed,  of  record  in  the  Clerk's  Office :  Be  it  Known 
to  all  Men  that  whereas  the  Presbyterian  Congregations  of  Otter 
Peaks  in  Bedford  County  found  it  ver}^  inconvenient  to  support 
a  Minister  of  our  Denomination  by  yearly  subscription  there- 
fore various  well  disposed  Members  of  said  Congregations  and. 
others  have  contributed  considerable  sums  of  Money  by  which 
Slaves  were  bought  Viz. :  Kate,  Tom,  Jerry,  Yenus  and  now  said 
Slaves  Issue,  Viz.:  Nance,  Ishmael,  Sail,  Moses,  Herod,  Cyrus, 


30  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Pharez,  Jinney,  Charles,  Milly  and  their  Issue  forever  are  vested 
in  the  Eegular  Elders  of  said  Congregations  in  Bedford  Coiintv, 
A^irginia,  and  their  Eegular  Successors  in  Trust  only  faithfully 
to  apply  the  neat  profits  of  said  Slaves  and  Issue  forever  in  said 
Congregations  to  supporting  a  Eegular  Minister  of  said  Denomina- 
tion in  said  Congregations  and  for  purchasing  lands  for  said 
Slaves  to  work  on,  and  to  keep  decent  Houses  of  Worship  in'  Ee- 
pair   and   for    such    other   Charitable   uses   as   said    Elders   and 

Majority  of  said  Congregations  may  agree  upon 

should  at  any  time  the  profits  of  said  Slaves  arise  to  such  a  sur- 
plus Know  all  Men  therefore  that  we  the  Purchasers  Heirs  at 
Law  and  next  of  kin  to  said  Purchasers  of  said  Slaves,  Viz. :  Kate, 
Tom,  Jerry,  Venus,  Purchased  with  the  above  contributed  Money 
Do  hereby  each  on  our  respective  parts  Warrant  and  forever  defend 
the  above  named  Slaves,  Kate,  Tom,  Jerry,  Venus  and  their  Issue 
forever  for  the  above  Mentioned  Purpose  from  us  and  each  of 
our  Heirs  and  assigns  forever.  Witness  Whereof  we  hereunto  set 
our  hands  and  affix  our  seals  this  28th  day  of  July  One  Thousand 
Seven  hundred  Eighty-three. 


presence  of 

James  Turner, 

Eobt.  Ewing, 

(Seal) 

Samuel  Beard, 

W.  Ewing. 

(Seal) 

Adam  Beard. 

John  Trigg, 

(Seal) 

(xeorge  Dickson. 

William  Trigg, 

(Seal) 

John  Ewing, 

David  Eice. 

(Seal) 

At  a  Coui't  held  for  Bedford  County  25th  August,  1783. 

This  certain  Writing  was  acknowledged  by  Eobert  Ewing, 
William  Ewing,  William  Trigg  and  John  Trigg,  and 

At  a  Court  held  for  the  said  County  the  22  day  of  September 
following,  the  same  was  further  proved  as  to  David  Eice  and 
ordered  to  be  recorded. 

Teste,  Jas.  Steptoe,  C.  C. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA. 


MILITARY  STATISTICS 


Bedford  furnished  her  quota  of  soldiers  for  the  French,  Indian. 
Border,  Kevolutionary,  and  Mexican  "Wars.  There  are  records  of 
many  distinguished  officers  from  this  county  who  commanded 
soldiers  during  these  wars. 

The  militia  was  drilled  at  stated  times  by  the  captain;  occa- 
sional musters  were  held  at  some  central  point,  when  the  whole 
country  turned  out  to  see  the  soldiers  drill  in  their  attractive 
uniforms.  The  soldierly  bearing  of  these  farmers  was  remarkable, 
and  their  descendants  promptly  responded  to  the  call  of  Virginia, 
when,  in  after  years,  she  was  plunged  into  a  civil  war  whose  equal 
has  not  been  recorded  in  the  annals  of  nations. 

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  ^^pon  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  Eevolu- 
tion.  On  one  hand  lay  the  states  still  composing  the  Federal 
Tnion,  while  on  the  other  were  those  which  had  cast  their  fortunes 
Math  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.  N'early  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  Eifle 
■Grays,  Captain  Thomas  Leftwich;  Clay  Dragoons,  Captain  William 
E.  Terry;  Old  Dominion  Eifles,  Captain  Thomas  M.  Bowyer;  Bed- 
ford Light  Artillery.  Captain  T.  C.  Jordan;  C.  E.  Eifle,  Captain 
William  L.  Wingfield:    Dragoons,  Captain  James  Wilson;    Eifles. 


32  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

t'aptain  James  McG.  Kent;  C.  F.  Eifle,  Captain  Aug.  L.  Minter; 
I)edford  Eangers,  Captain  E.  C.  W".  Eadford.  Early  in  these  days 
the  "Association  of  Ladies  of  Bedford  County  for  the  Belief  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.  0.  P.  Bell,  vice-president; 
Mrs.  John  F.  Sale,  treasurQr,  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  sulmiitted 
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  Eidge  Mountains  (subsequently  known  as  Bu- 
ford's  Gap)  into  the  Goose  Creek  Valley;  thence  traversed  the 
valley  northward,  and  recrossed  the  Blue  Eidge  at  the  head  of 
the  valle}^  into  Augusta  (now  Eockbridge)   County. 

General  Andrew  Lewis,  while  acting  in  the  Council  of  State, 
loft  the  capital  at  Williamsburg  to  return  to  his  home  in  Bote- 
tourt (now  Eoanoke)  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.  Hi=5 
remains  were   conveyed   to  his  home,   where  they   were   interred. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  33 

Subsequentl)',  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 
his  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  Eailroad,  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 
v/ithin  a  few  years  past." 

Tarleton  during  the  Eevolutionary  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  ?ides  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 


34  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

soldiers  who  afterwards  became  presidents  of  the  United  States, 
Eutherford  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- 
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  ii'. 
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. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  35 

VIRGINIA 


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  moiuits  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  Virgin^; 
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; 


36 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA. 


37 


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  Kevolutionary  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. 
John  Anthony, 
Wm.  Irvine, 
Wm.  Meade, 
Jeremiah  Early, 
Joseph  Eentfro, 

Sam'l  Hairston. 
Ensigns. 

Sam'l   Hairston, 

Thos.  Prather, 

Thos.  Gilbert, 

Benj.  Hatcher, 

Jeremiah  Yarborough, 

Eobt.  Hairston, 

Wm.  Irvine. 


Sergeants. 
J^  John  Hunter, 
Wm.   Edwards, 
xAmbrose  Bryant, 
Wm.  Simmonds, 
Gross  Scruggs. 
Meshach  Haile, 
Rich.  Andrews, 
Eich.  Eagsdale, 
Eich.  Callaway, 
Joseph  Eentfro, 
Thos.  Prather, 
James  Patterson, 
Nath.  Patterson, 
John  Hunter, 
Ambrose  Bramlett, 
Wm.  Bramlett, 
Josias  Gipson, 
Geo.  Watts, 
Edmund  Fair, 
Jacob  Anderson. 


38 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


Privates. 
John  Alston, 
Jacob' Anderson, 
James  Alcorn, 
Sam'l    Arrenton, 
Geo.  Abbott, 
John  Abston, 
Wm.  Anderson, 
Geo.  Abet, 
Wm.  Allen, 
Barnabns  Arthur, 
Barnabus  Arthur,  Jr., 
Wm.    Arthur, 
Thos.  Alfred, 
Geo.   Adams, 
John  Adams, 
John    Anderson, 
Wm.  Bumpass, 
>  John  Brown, 
Amhns  Bramlett, 
Isaac  Butterworth, 

Joseph  Benumg, 

John  Benning, 

Zaeh.  Burnley, 

Ambrose  Bryan, 
vSaml.  Brown, 

Chas.   Bright, 

James  Board, 

Wm.  Bramlett, 
;.  Isaac  Brown, 

Wm.  Board, 

John  Patrick  Burks, 

James  Bryan, 

Jesse  Bryan, 

Thos.  Baker, 

Edw.  Bright, 

Wm.  Burks, 

Eich.   Burks. 

Boiling  Burks, 


Piivaies. 
James  Bromlet, 
«     John   Bush, 
Leonard  Ballew, 
James  Baldwin, 
Glover  Baker, 
Jeremiah  Baskam, 
"-  Allen  Brown, 
Peter  Berry, 
John  Biggs, 
Wm.  Brown, 
James  Ball, 
Alexander  Boyd, 
Kudolph  Banner, 
Thos.   Buford, 
John   Buford, 
7Jas.  Callaway. 
Thos.  Cooper, 
Geo.  Caldwell, 
Wm.  Chalmor, 
Geo.  Coldwell, 
Arch.  Campbell, 
Wm.  Calmore, 
Sandiver  Cashiah,    • 
Edward  Choat, 
Augustine  Choat, 
John  Casey, 
Abraham   Chandler, 
Merry  Carter, 
/•Wm.  Carson, 
Chas.  Cox, 
Wm.  Crabtree, 
James  Corser, 
7  James  Carson, 
Hugh  Crockett, 
John   Conner, 
David  Crews, 
Bartholomew  Carrill, 
Wm.  Crouch, 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA. 


39 


Privates. 
Win.    Conner, 
Joseph  Cogswell,  St., 
Henry  Childress, 
Richard    Cottreal, 
Charles  Clark, 
Nathaniel  Clark,  -- 
Thos.  Chapman, 
Janvier    Craigg, 
Wm.   Craigg, 
Wm.  Coulter, 
John  Daunn, 
John  Dixton, 
"Wm.  Davis, 
Edward  Davis, 
John  Davies, 
Wm.  Dilenham, 
Thos.  Duly, 
James  Duly, 
Thos.  Daws, 
Thos.  Drigger, 
Jonathan    Dacon, 
David  Doyle, 
Daniel  Driskill, 
Joseph   Davenport, 
Wm.  Dunnaway. 
Archibald  Denton, 
Thos.  Earley, 
Chas.  English, 
Wm.  Fuqua, 
James  Fair, 
James  Fair, 
Jesse  Farmer, 
Nathan  Farmer, 
Clarence  Frank, 
James  Fitzgerald, 
Daniel  Gilbert, 
Benj.  Gilbert, 
Acquiller   Gilbert, 


Privates. 

Saml.   Gilbert, 

Josiah  Gibson, 

Geo.  Grundy, 

John  Gallaway, 

Jonathan   Ginnings, 

John  Grymes, 

Saml.  Gilbert, 

John  Gallway, 

Hugh  Garvin, 

Ansal   Goodman, 

James  Graham, 

Wm.  Going, 

John  Green, 

Peter   Gashmire, 

Nathaniel  Gish, 

Eobt.  Hairstone, 

Nicholas  Hayes, 

John  Hardiman, 

Chas.  Harris, 

Wm.  Hinton, 

Barlet  Henson, 

John   Hardman, 

Geo.  Haynes, 

Wm.  Haynes, 

Jacob  Henderson, 

John  Handy, 

Benj.  Hatcher, 

Patrick  Halloquan, 

John  Haynes, 

Thos.  Hunt, 

Geo.  Hackworth, 

John  Hall, 

Wm.  Handy, 

Andrew  Hairston, 

Patrick  Hensey, 

John  House, 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Henson's  hus- 
band and  two  sons. 


40 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


Privates. 
James  Hurt, 
'Abram  Helm, 
Jacob  Hutts, 
John  Holly, 
David  Hix, 
Eich.  Edwards, 
Wm.  Edwards, 
Jeremiah  Earley,  — 
John  Edgar,  _-^ 
Gary  Holland, 
John  Humphreys, 
George  Harmon, 
'  William  Hudson, 
John  Harris, 
Moses  Hawkins, 
Eush  Hudson, 
Thos.  Hill, 
John    Hogan, 
Peter  Hogan, 
James  Hogan, 
William  Haekworth, 
David  Irvine, 
Abraham  Irvine, 
James  Johnston, 
Jonathan  Jennings, 
William   Jackson, 
Ealph  Jopling, 
John  Johnson, 
John  Jackson, 
Peter  Jones, 
Peter  Jines, 
Jonathan  Jones, 
James  Jones, 
Patrick  Johnson, 
Eobt.  Jones, 
Thos.  Jones, 
John  Jones, 
John  Jenkms, 


Privates. 
Sandesur  Keiser, 
Eeuben  Keif, 
Michael  Kelly, 
David  Kerr, 
Jacob  Kittinger, 
Jos.  Looney, 
Elliott  Lacy, 
Head  Lynch, 
John  Lawson, 
John  London, 
John  Loson, 
David  Loson, 
Wm.  Lucks, 
Wm.  Layne, 
Archibald  Lamb, 
Henry  Lahorn, 
Philip  Lockhart, 
John  Lafoy. 
William  Leister, 
John  Linton, 
Jas.   McEonalds, 
Thos.  Murry, 
James  McEunnals, 
Abraham   Mitchell, 
Luke  Murphy, 
James  Morris, 
James  Murphy, 
John  Martin, 
Eobt.  Martin, 
Wm.  Manley, 
Jas.  McMurtry, 
Patrick  McDade, 
Evan  Morgan, 
John  Morgan. 
John  Mackay,  Jr., 
James  Mackay, 
AVm.  Morgan, 
Thos.   i\Iorgan, 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA. 


41 


Privates. 
John   Moore, 
Patrick  McDavid, 
John  Mattos, 
James  Maekie, 
Wm,  Morgan,  Jr., 
Joseph  Murty, 
John  Mattocks, 
John  Mitchmn, 
John   Martiam, 
Wm.  Morgan, 
John  Meade, 
Abel  Meade, 
James  Moore, 
Danl.  McFall, 
Jas.  McFall, 
John  Mackv, 
Roderick  McKenzie, 
William   Moseley, 
William  McMinimy, 
Charles  Melson, 
Major  Merritt, 
Abiel  Mead, 
Alexander  McKenzie, 
George  Merritt, 
James  Mclntire, 
Michael  Murphy. 
Patrick  Murphy, 
William  Martin, 
Ptobt.  Martin, 
Christopher  Munday, 
James  Millwood, 
Archelus  McN"eale, 
James  Moore, 
Jos.    McDaniel, 
David  Morse, 
Joseph  McMurty, 
Abraham  McClelan, 
Wm.  Montgomery, 


Privates. 
Rich.  Maples, 
Thos.  Maclin, 
John  Neilson, 
AVm.   Nix, 
Nimrod  Newman, 
William  Nichols, 
John  Nichols, 
James  Noland, 
Piobt.  Oglesby, 
Thos.  Owen, 
Thos.  Overstreet, 
Thos.  Oglesby, 
Edward  Ohair, 
John  Orrack, 
James  Orchard, 
William  Oliver, 
Math.  Patterson, 
John  Pratt, 
James  Patterson, 
Rich.  Phillips. 
Thos.  Pharman, 
David  Preston, 
John  Pyburn, 
Robt.  Peper, 
Saml.   Peper, 
Philip  Preston, 
Jesse   Paty, 
Jeremiah  Pate, 
John  Pate, 
Matt.   Pate, 
Jacob  Pate, 
Moses  Preston, 
Wm.  Puttect, 
James  Puttect, 
Nathan  Pottlet, 
Jonathan  Prater, 
James  Presnal, 
Wm.   Phelps, 


42 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


Privates. 
Eich.   Pritchard, 
Michael  Poore, 
Andrew  Poore, 
John  Perrin, 
Henry   Piles, 

Prewitt, 

John  Phillips, 
John  Quarles, 
David  Eosser, 
::7Thos.  Eeade, 
John   Eobertson, 
Joseph  Eyan, 
Pharaoh  Eyley. 
John  Eobertson,  Jr., 
John   Eichardson, 
Bailey  Eeins, 
John  Eoek, 
Thomas  Eose, 
William  Eeese, 
Ben  Euff, 
George  Eusher, 
AVilliam  Eoss, 

■  Eunyan, 

Josiah  Eichardson, 
Zach.   Eobertson, 
Jonathan  Eichardson, 
Peter  Eawlins, 
Anthony  Eawlins, 
Peter  Eagsdale, 
Joseph  Eay, 
Moses  Eentfroe, 
Joseph  Eichardson, 
John  Eobinson, 
Wm.  Eagsdale, 
Josiah  Eamse}'', 
Danl.  Eichardson, 
Stephen  Eunnals, 
Saml.    Eobertson, 


Privates. 
Danl.  Eichardson, 
Xathan  Eichardson, 
Stephen  Eentfroe, 
John  Eiley, 
James  Eentfroe, 
Saml.   Eobinson. 
Bagdale  Eice. 
Eobert  Eaiford, 
George  Eice, 
jSTathan  Eeid, 
William   Eobinson, 
James  Eowsey, 
Francis   Siver. 
John  Spnrlock, 
Christ.  Sitton, 
Eobt.  Shipley, 
Eobt.   Shipley,  Jr., 
Wm.  Simmons, 
Geo.   Smith. 
Chas.  Simmons, 
Wm.   Stone. 
John   Spenlock, 
John  Snow, 
Abraham  Smith, 
James  Spencer, 
Thos.  Sexton, 
Chas.  Suter, 
Fortunatus    Svdnor, 
James  Smith, 
Henry  Snow, 
Jolm   Snell, 
Eobert  Still, 
John  Stiff,  Sr., 
John  Talbot, 
Eich.  Tiths, 
John  Thompson. 
Wm.    Twiddy, 
Chas.    Talbot. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA. 


43 


Privates. 
John  Thomas, 
Kich.  Taylor, 
Nathan  Tate, 
Wm.  Tate, 
Henry  Trunk, 
Matt.  Talbot, 
Abraham    Thompson, 
John  Tinker, 
Stephen   Towns, 
James  Talbot, 
Geo.  Thomas, 
Wm.   Twedey, 
Thos.  Thirman, 
William  Thorp, 
David  Turner, 
Obadiah  Turpin, 
John  Thorp, 
Eichard   Timberlake, 
Thomas  Thorp, 
Daniel  Tyler, 
James  Thomas, 
William  Thomson, 
Patrick  Vance, 
John  Vardeman, 
Wm,.  Whiteside, 
Eich.  Woodward, 
John  Watts, 
John  Wright, 
Wm.  Woodie, 


Privates. 
Saml.  W^oodward. 
John  Ward, 
Wm.  Walker, 
Eich.  Woodward,  Sr., 
Wm.  Woodward, 
John   Woodward, 
Edward  Watts, 
James  Wine, 
John  Watts, 
Isaac  Woodward, 
Eobert  Witt, 
John  Wright, 
Aaron  Watts, 
Eobert  Watkins, 
James  Womack, 
Jacob  Wade, 
Henry  Woody, 
Justinian  Wills, 
Thomas  Eose  Walton, 
Thomas  Eose  Wharton 
Isaac  Wade, 
Matthew  Whorley, 
John  Williams, 
James  Weare, 
James  Wade, 
Wm.  Yates, 
John  Yates, 
Israel  Young. 


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. 


44 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


CAPTAIN  BUFORD'S  VOLUNTEERS  IN  1774 

List  of  Captain  Thomas  Buford's  Volunteer  Company,  raised  iu 
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. 


r 

rhomas  Buford,  Captain. 

Nicholas  Meade,     \ 

Thomas  Dooley,  Lieutenant. 

William  Kenedy,     l  Se: 

Jonathan  Cundiff,  Ensign. 

Thomas  Fliping, 

1. 

Abraham  Sharp, 

24. 

Adam  Lin, 

2. 

Absolam  McClanahan, 

25. 

Thomas  Stephens, 

3. 

"William  Bryant, 

26. 

William  Keer, 

4. 

William  McColister. 

27. 

Gerrott  Kelley. 

5. 

James  Scarbara, 

28. 

James  Ard, 

6. 

John  McClanahan. 

29. 

William  Deal, 

7. 

James  McBride, 

30. 

John  Bozel, 

8. 

John  Carter, 

31. 

John  Welch, 

9. 

William  Overstreef. 

32. 

Eobert  Boyd, 

10. 

Eobert  Hill, 

33. 

Thomas   Hamrick, 

11. 

Samuel  Davis, 

34. 

James  Boyd, 

12. 

Zachariah  Kennot, 

35. 

James   Dale, 

13. 

Augustine  Hackworth, 

36. 

Eobert  Ewing, 

14. 

William  Cook, 

37. 

Francis  Seed, 

15. 

Uriah  Squires, 

38. 

William  Hackworth, 

16. 

Thomas  Hall, 

39. 

John  Eoberts, 

17. 

AVilliam  Hamrick, 

40. 

Joseph  White, 

IS. 

Nathaniel  Cooper, 

41. 

Joseph  Bunch, 

19. 

John  Cook, 

42. 

Jacob  Dooley, 

20. 

Mr.  Waugh, 

43. 

Thomas  Owen, 

21. 

John  McGlahlen, 

44. 

John  Eead, 

22. 

John  Campbell. 

45. 

John  Wood. 

23. 

William  Campbell. 

Sergeants. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  45 


VIRGINIA  DAY 

June    12,    1907 

BEDFORD'S  GFiEETlNQ 

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, 
v/arm  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.  Ta 
this  nation,  to  whose  growth  and  power  she  has  made  such  vast 
contribution,  her  heart  goes  out  in  abounding  and  abiding  love. 


46  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  Eiver,  for 
the  distance  of  eighteen  miles ;  on  the  south  by  Staunton  Eiver,  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 
tt-  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.  E.  E.  near  Blue  Eidge  Springs, 
],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  Eiver  on  the  northeast  along 
the  eastern  side  of  the  Blue  Eidge  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 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    YA.  47 

Staunton  or  Eoanoke  goes  into  Albemarle  Sound  in  North  Carolina, 
both  giving  am^ale  facilities  for  an  abundance  of  fine  fish  of  man}^ 
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 
onl}'  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  Eidge,  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 


48 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


O 


BEDFORD    COU^'TY,    VA.  49 

syenitic  rock.  This  character  of  soil  will  be  found  mainly  on  and 
adjacent  to  the  spurs  of  the  Blue  Eidge  Mountains,  which  defend 
the  north  and  northwestern  borders  of  this  county  and  is  to  a  large 
extent  covered  by  luxuriant  forest  growth. 

Whenever  cleared  it  spontaneously  produces  blue  grass  very  luxu- 
riantly; and  it  is  customary  for  the  farmers  in  the  adjacent  low- 
lands to  send  their  sheep  and  cattle  to  summer  on  these  verdant 
mountain  pastures. 

Under  cultivation,  this  mountain  soil  produces  successfully  the 
cereal  crops,  but  seems  even  better  adapted  to  such  crops  as  cabbage 
or  Irish  potatoes,  and  is  unsurpassed  for  apples.  These  mountain 
slopes,  which  overlook  the  County  of  Bedford  from  the  James  to 
Staunton  Elvers  for  a  distance  of  some  thirty-one  miles,  with  their 
light,  naturally  drained,  rich,  dark  soil  exposed  to  the  rays  of  the 
sun  summer  and  winter,  would  sustain  vineyards  that  would  be 
unsurpassed  in  abundance,  beauty  and  quality  by  any  other  section 
of  the  State. 

Second.  The  next  grade  of  soil  is  a  heavy  red  clay  and  may  be 
called  the  Piedmont  soil,  as  it  lies  adjacent  to  the  mountain  land 
of  our  first  classification.  This  land  is  well  known  throughout 
Virginia  for  its  general  adaptability  to  crops  of  every  kind,  cereals, 
grasses,  shipping  tobacco,  fruits  and  vegetables.  It  constitutes  the 
best  and  most  generally  productive  soil  east  of  the  great  lime- 
stone lands  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  in  some  respects  sur- 
passes even  those.  It  is  very  warm  and  encourages  early  vegetation^ 
and  when  well  set  in  grass  forms  a  vivid  green  in  early  spring. 
Much  of  this  soil  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  an  intelligent 
system  of  tile  drainage,  especially  where  it  is  nearly  level,  and 
therefore  retains  a  surplus  of  moisture,  which  by  surface  evapora- 
tion chills  the  soil  and  retards  vegetation.  Heavy  crops  of  corn 
are  grown  on  these  lands,  in  many  cases  surpassing  in  yield  the  rich 
alluvium  of  the  river  and  creek  bottoms.  The  tendency  of  this 
land,  where  it  is  not  left  naked  or  exposed  on  steep  hillsides  to 
washing  by  heavy  rainfall,  is  to  clothe  itself  with  grass,  generally 
Kentucky  blue  grass,  known  to  our  northern  brethren  as  June 
grass.  For  this  reason  cattle-growing,  dairying  and  sheep-raising 
all  prove  very  profitable  on  lands  of  this  character.  Most  of  this 
land  lies  on  the  north  side  of  the  county,  between  the  mountains 
and  the  N.  &  W.  E.  E.,  though  in  several  noted  instances  it  crosses 


50  HISTORICAL   SKETCH 

the  railroad  at  different  points  and  extends  irregularly  into  the 
''South  Side/' 

Third.  The  next  order  as  to  quantity  is  the  lighter  gray  of  the 
south  side  of  the  county.  Most  of  this  land  is  underlaid  by  a  red 
clay  soil,  which  gives  it  a  "bottom"  and  renders  it  susceptible  and 
rententive  of  high  improvements.  The  crops  usually  grown  on  this 
land  are  corn,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  clover,  and  very  fine  tobacco.  Fruit 
succeeds  well  on  this  land  also,  especially  peaches,  which  attain  a 
large  size  and  rich  flavor. 

Be  careful  to  get  a  good  soil,  properly  located,  well  drained  and 
supplied  with  pure  freestone  water,  and  all  things  else  can  be  added 
unto  it. 

TIMBER 

Originally  Bedford  County  was  one  of  the  best-timbered  sections 
of  the  State.  It  was  nothing  unusual  during  the  time  of  slavery 
to  see  the  best  and  finest  timbered  lands  cleared  for  tobacco;  rails 
enough  to  fence  in  the  land  cleared  would  be  split  from  the  best 
of  the  timber,  and  the  rest  would  be  rolled  up  into  large  log  heaps, 
awaiting  a  favorable  day  when  the  whole  of  this  fine  lot  of  valuable 
saw  timber  would  be  reduced  to  ashes.  The  same  process  of  destruc- 
tion has  been  repeated  since  the  close  of  the  war,  but  not  to  such 
an  extent  as  before.  The  negro,  as  a  slave,  had  to  be  employed, 
though  he  might  be  destroying  more  than  he  was  making.  There 
are  still  standing  some  very  fine  areas  of  timber  in  this 
county,  but  they  are  mostly  remote  from  transportation  lines,  ex- 
cept those  sections  recently  opened  up  by  the  extension  of  the 
Tidewater  Railroad  through  this  county.  For  the  distance  of 
some  thirty-two  miles,  along  the  southern  tier  paralleling  the  N. 
&  W.  E.  E.,  some  fifteen  miles  to  the  south,  these  timbers  are  valu- 
able and  are  much  sought  after  by  the  local  and  foreign  saw-mill 
men.  There  are  several  large  areas  of  fine  timber  lands 
located  on  the  mountains,  quite  remote  from  the  railroads,  which 
would  furnish  many  years'  work  for  mills  of  large  capacity  and 
would  be  a  source  of  much  revenue  if  properly  handled.  The  prin- 
cipal growth  of  this  county  is  the  oak  in  the  numerous  varieties 
of  red,  Spanish,  chestnut,  black  and  white;  hickory,  yellow  poplar, 
yellow  pine,  yellow  locust,  bush  chestnut,  gum,  dogwood,  maple, 
sassafras,  birds-eye  maple,  black  walnut,  cherry,  willow,  and  the 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  51 

old-field  pine.  An  exhibit  prepared  carefully  for  the  purpose  oi 
displaying  the  forest  resources  of  Bedford  County  was  taken  to  the 
State  Exposition  at  Eichmond  in  October,  1893,  and  was  awarded 
the  first  premium  for  excellence  and  variety.  Probably  some  of  the 
finest  locust  in  the  State  could  be  found  in  this  county.  A  pulp 
mill  properly  located  could  find  material  enough  to  keep  it  running 
for  generations  to  come.  The  demand  for  timber  is  steadily  on  the 
increase  and  it  is  only  a  matter  of  time  before  all  the  available 
timber  properties  will  be  taken  up. 

CLIMATE 

It  would  be  well-nigh  impossible  within  the  brief  space  at  our 
command  to  give  any  adequate  description  of  the.  climate  of  this 
county,  which,  above  all  others,  is  its  chief  charm  and  attraction. 
As  its  elevation  and  partly  mountainous  surface  would  indicate, 
the  atmosphere  is  very  dry  and  bracing,  while  the  range  of  the 
mercury  is  comparatively  short.  The  mean  annual  temperature 
at  Lynchburg  for  33  years  was  56.40.  The  mean  annual  rainfall  at 
Lynchburg  for  25  years  was  43.85.  The  topography  of  this  county 
and  the  extreme  purity  of  its  atmosphere  make  this  climate  singu- 
larly healthful  and  beneficial  to  invalids.  There  are  no  marshes 
and  stagnant  pools,  and  the  neighborhood  is  entirely  free  from 
malarial  disorders.  The  winters  are  short  and  mild,  seldom  of 
more  than  three  months  duration,  and  generally  dry  and  pleasant ; 
snow  scarcely  lies  here  for  more  than  a  few  days,  and  there  is  but 
little  interruption  to  agricultural  pursuits  during  the  entire  winter. 
The  heat  of  summer  is  never  extreme,  as  it  is  tempered  by  the 
delightful  southwest  breezes,  and  cool,  sweet  air  from  the  neighbor- 
ing mountains.  On  the  official  map  of  Virginia,  Bedford  will  be 
found  within  the  belt  which  enjoys  the  minimum  heat  in  summer 
and  the  minimum  cold  in  winter.  During  the  summer  months, 
near  the  eastern  bases  of  the  Blue  Eidge  Mountains,  there  are  more 
frequent  showers  than  in  any  other  part  of  Virginia.  The  ex- 
planation of  this  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  the  prevailing  wind 
at  that  season  comes  direct  from  the  sea,  and  its  moisture,  when 
driven  against  the  moimtain  barrier,  meets  with  a  colder  stratum  of 
air  and  becomes  condensed,  thus  producing  welcome  showers  which 
refresh  and  invigorate  the  growing  crops.  In  less  favored  sections 
the  grounds  remain  parched  and  dry.     The  sheltered  eastern  slopes 


52  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

of  these  mountain  ranges,  above  the  line  of  1.000  feet  of  elevation 
al)ove  the  sea  level  and  under  that  of  2.500,  offer  hundreds  of  locali- 
ties for  health  resorts,  especially  for  people  afflicted  with  pulmonary 
diseases.  If  any  one  is  sceptical  about  the  efficacy  of  the  Blue 
Eidge  air,  water  and  exercises  for  lung  troubles,  let  him  spend  a 
few  months  at  some  point  in  the  belt,  and  we  will  make  him  a  re- 
feree to  sustain  the  opinion  here  advanced.  A  man  with  his  wife 
and  children  from  the  far  distant  west,  a  supposed  victim  of  this 
fearful  disease,  spent  several  winters  on  the  Apple  Orchard  in  a 
log  cabin.  The  third  year  he  returned  to  the  flat  woods,  restored 
to  health  and  strength.  That  portion  of  Bedford  County  which 
lies  nearest  to  the  Blue  Eidge,  which  is  protected  from  the  gales 
and  blizzards  of  the  northwest,  and  has  the  best  of  winter  exposures, 
is  a  southeastern  slope.  Snow  falling  in  this  section  disappears 
before  the  ardent  rays  of  the  sun  in  a  few  hours ;  frequently  every 
vestige  melts  within  tweAty-four  hours  from  the  cessation  of  its 
falling.  The  advantage  of  such  a  climate  is  no  less  great  to  the 
grazier  and  stock  grower  than  to  the  searcher  for  health,  for  it 
greatly  lessons  both  the  expense  and  risk  of  maintaining  live  stock 
during  the  winter  months. 

The  mild  winters  and  the  long  delightful  autumns  seem  to  me 
[the  author]  the  chief  charm  from  a  climatic  standpoint.  I  have 
never  had  kinder  or  more  considerate  treatment  anywhere  in  the 
world.  With  a  warm  welcome,  productive  and  cheap  lands,  a  superb 
climate,  a  picturesque  coimtry,  churches,  Sunday-schools,  public 
free-schools,  academies  of  high  grade  for  both  sexes,  unsurpassed 
railroad  facilities  making  close  and  speedy  connection  with  the  great 
centers  of  population  upon  this  continent,  endless  opportunities 
for  success  await  the  immigrant!  Can  the  earth  elsewhere  offer 
m_ore?     Come  and  see. 

ADJACENT  CITIES 

The  City  of  Eoanoke,  on  the  banks  of  the  Eoanoke  and  Staunton 
Eiver,  five  miles  above  the  county  line  of  Bedford  County,  has 
about  35,000  inhabitants;  it  is  a  well-built  and  substantial  town. 
The  N.  &  W.  Eailway  shops  located  at  this  place  have  a  monthly 
pay-roll  of  over  $100,000.00,  and  should  the  Tidewater  Eailway 
have  its  shops  here,  which  is  more  than  probable,  the  pay-roll  will 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  53 

be  largely  increased,  and  the  already  inviting  market  for  all  farm 
products  will  be  much  increased.  The  nearby  Bedford  farmers 
are  taking  advantage  of  their  opportunity  to  dispose  of  their  surplus 
products  at  good  prices.  The  same  can  be  said  of  Lynchburg,  on 
the  James  Eiver,  three  miles  from  our  county  line,  as  a  fine  mar- 
ket for  all  farm  products.  Lynchburg  has  more  money  per  capita 
than  any  city  in  tlie  Union,  and  is  soon  destined  to  be  the  leading 
shoe  market  of  the  South.  The  monthly  pay-roll  for  all  industries 
is  quite  a  large  one. 

ACCESSIBILITY 

The  accompanying  map  will  show  that  Bedford  County  is  within 
short  and  easy  access  of  the  great  eastern  centers  of  population. 
Within  five  miles  of  the  southeastern  boundary  line  is  the  City  of 
Eoanoke,  a  great  railroad  center,  with  a  monthly  pay-roll  of  over 
$100,000.00,  and  from  which  railroads  radiate  in  every  direction, 
viz. :  To  Winston-Salem,  N".  C. ;  Hagerstown,  Md. ;  Bristol,  Tenn. ; 
Columbus,  Ohio ;  and  in  a  few  months  the  great  Tidewater  system 
of  railroads  will  connect  Eoanoke  and  Bedford  County  with  the 
great  coal  field  of  West  Virginia.  Within  three  and  a  half  miles 
of  the  northeastern  boundary  line  is  Lynchburg,  the  coming  center 
•of  shoe  factories  of  the  South,  with  more  money  per  capita  than 
any  city  in  the  United  States,  and  as  much  energy  and  push  as 
can  be  found  on  the  same  area  in  the  world.  Eailroads  radiating 
from  Lynchburg  are  the  Southern,  to  Washington  and  Danville; 
C.  &  0.,  to  Eichmond  and  Norfolk  and  the  West  Virginia  coal 
fields ;  N.  &  W.,  to  Durham,  N.  C,  Petersburg,  Norfolk,  and  Eich- 
mond. An  hour's  ride  from  Bedford  City  over  the  well-equipped 
double  track  of  the  N.  &  W.  will  put  you  either  in  Eoanoke  or 
Lynchburg,  where  close  connections  are  made  with  trains  for  all 
parts  of  the  country.  The  C.  &  0.  skirts  the  county  along  the 
James  for  eighteen  miles  on  the  north.  The  Tidewater  passes 
diagonally  across  the  county  in  a  southeasterly  direction  from 
Staunton  Eiver  to  Goose  Creek,  thence  to  Staunton  Eiver  again, 
giving  the  entire  south  side  of  Bedford  County  easy  railroad  facili- 
ties for  its  rich  undeveloped  resources  for  a  distance  of  32  miles; 
is  close  to  Eoanoke  and  double-tracked  down  grade  to  Norfolk 
.and  other  cities  east. 


54  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

PURE  WATER 

At  a  glance  it  must  be  patent  to  the  most  casual  observer  that 
the  waters  of  Bedford  County  must  be  absolutely  pure,  with  the 
exception  of  such  materials  as  are  dissolved  from  its  own  soils. 
The  following  rivers  and  creeks  have  their  heads  or  sources  entirely 
within  the  limits  of  Bedford  County,  viz :  Goose  Creek  has  its 
head  some  eight  miles  west  of  Montvale  (N.  &  W.  E.  E.,  1,004 
feet  altitude),  its  water  flowing  south  through  the  rich  "Goose  Creek 
Valley,"'  then  in  a  southeasterly  direction  for  twenty-five  miles, 
emptying  into  the  Staunton  near  Leesville  in  Campbell  County. 
Along  its  journey  it  gathers  water  from  Enoch's  Creek,  Wolf  Creek, 
Stony  Creek,  Body  Camp  Creek,  Hunting  Creek,  Bold  Branch, 
Difficult  Eun.  Eockcastle  Creek,  Crab  Orchard  Creek,  Clover  Creek, 
and  many  others.  Big  Otter  Eiver  runs  in  a  southeasterly  direction 
through  the  center  of  the  county  a  distance  of  twenty  miles  to  the 
Campbell  County  line,  thence  into  Staunton  Eiver.  The  various 
and  numerous  headwaters  of  this  pure  and  beautiful  stream  can 
be  likened  to  ribs  of  a  palm-leaf  fan  reaching  out  in  every  di- 
rection so  as  to  enable  the  gurgling  spring  waters,  from  the  moun  - 
tain  tops  and  valleys,  to  have  a  sure  channel  for  an  outlet.  Slieep 
Creek  heads  north  of  the  Peaks  of  Otter;  Stony  Eun  and  Stony 
Creek  get  their  waters  off  the  Peaks,  Plat  Top  and  Headforemost. 
Korth  Fork  of  Otter  drains  Suck  Mountain,  Headforemost,  Big 
and  Little  Onion  Mountains  and  Terrapin  Mountain.  Add  to  these 
Little  Otter  with  its  North,  Middle  and  South  Forks,  Eoaring  Eun, 
Elk  Creek,  Island  Creek.  Lick  Creek,  Orrick  Creek,  Buffalo  Creek, 
and  many  others  too  numerous  to  mention,  you  have  a  network  of 
springs,  branches,  creeks,  and  rivers  extending  from  the  tops  of  the 
mountains,  4,001  feet  high,  to  the  county  line  near  Leesville,  700 
feet.  Battery  Creek,  Hunting  Creek,  and  Eead  Creek  flow  into 
James  Eiver  above,  at  and  below  Big  Island;  Cove  Creek,  near 
Coleman's  Falls.  Judith  Creek  rises  in  Walnut  Hollow, 
Fleming  Mountain,  and  flows  into  James  Eiver  near  the 
county  line.  Ivy  Creek  rises  in  Jackson  Mountain  near 
Coffee;  after  flowing  in  a  hoop-shaped  direction  for  a  distance  of 
14  miles  it  unites  with  Blackwater  Creek  and  empties  into  the 
James  Eiver  at  Lynchburg.  Falling  Creek  and  Beaver-Dam  Creek 
rise  between   Green's  Knob   and  Weaver's   Knob   Mountains,   and. 


BEDFORD    COVNTY,    VA.  55 

flow  southeast  into  the  Staunton  River.  Jumping  Run,  Stony- 
Creek,  Hales  Creek,  Harris  Branch  and  Craddock  Creek  all  flow 
into  Staunton  River  before  it  passes  through  the  mountains  at 
Smith's  Gap,  2,443  feet,  a  scene  beautiful  to  behold.  The  last 
siream  to  flow  into  the  river  from  Bedford  County  is  Terrapin 
Creek.  The  vast  amount  of  fine  water  power  that  is  annually  going 
for  naught  is  appalling  when  you  come  to  consider  the  amount  of 
raw  material  at  hand  ready  for  the  factory. 

LAND  VALUES 

During  the  five-year  period  from  1900  to  1905  land  values  in  the 
United  States  have  advanced  to  the  extent  of  33.5  per  cent.  Thia 
is  equivalent  to  an  increase  in  value  of  $7.31  per  acre.  This  in- 
crease represents  something  substantial.  It  is  not  a  mere  inflation 
of  value.  On  the  other  hand  it  represents  to  a  large  extent  the 
accumulated  earnings  of  farmers  which  have  been  put  into  per- 
manent improvements,  such  as  buildings  and  other  general  im- 
provements. This  at  least  we  infer  from  the  fact  that  in  1900,  21 
per  cent,  of  the  acre  value  of  farm  land  was  represented  by  money 
invested  in  buildings  and  other  permanent  improvements.  Those 
who  are  looking  for  a  reaction  in  the  price  of  land  will  not  be  able 
to  find  figures  in  reliable  tables  of  statistics  that  will  aid  them  in 
substantiating  or  finding  ground  for  such  expectations.  There 
are  many  reasons  why  we  are  not  looking  for  a  decline  in  land 
values.  Immigration  is  increasing  from  year  to  year.  Over  a 
million  foreigners  come  to  our  shores  every  twelve  months.  Our 
population  has  been  doubling  itself  every  thirty  years  for  the  past 
century  or  more.  If  this  continue,  our  population  will  soon  reach 
the  one  hundred  and  fifty  million  mark.  A  very  conservative  es- 
timate made  by  the  Bureau  of  Statistics  shows  that  in  1930  our 
population  will  approximately  reach  the  one  hundred  and  thirty 
million  mark,  perhaps  more.  With  this  enormous  increase  in 
population  and  with  practically  no  more  land  open  to  settlement,  it 
seems  to  be  self-evident  that  instead  of  land  values  going  back,  they 
must  necessarily  advance,  and  advance  materially.  The  cheaper 
land  of  good  quality  will  increase  in  commercial  value  more  rapidly 
than  will  those  that  are  now  worth  from  $100  to  $150  per  acre,  and 
those  farmers  or  investors  who  are  fortunate  enough  to  secure  farm 
real  estate  in  the  Southern  States  during  the  next  few  years  will 
unquestionably  make  the  most  profitable  investment  of  their  lives. 


56  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

FACTS  ABOUT  VIRGINIA 

Area,  42,450  square  miles,  or  in  acres 52,680,000 

Assessed  value  of  real   estate $378,977,069 

Mineral   lands    (not   in   above) 7,776,995 

Value    personal    property 137,763,474 

Manufactured  products  sold  in   1905 156,867,625 

Value  of  all  crops  in  1905 54,900,000 

Pupils    in    public    schools 391,040 

Annually  spent  on  schools 2,350,000 

Banking  capital 19,000,000 

Population     1,985,322 

Miles    of   railroad 3,228 

A  wise  philosopher  has  well  said  that  a  great  people  is  one  who 
knows  the  past,  lives  in  the  present  and  looks  forward  to  the  future. 
Considered  from  the  past,  present  and  future,  A^irginia  is  a  greai 
commonwealth.  No  people  in  the  same  length  of  time  has  pro- 
duced more  illustrious  men  or  performed  greater  achievements.  The 
old  Virginia  extending  from  Jamestown  to  Appomattox  is  the 
history  of  a  glorious  people  replete  with  great  deeds.  The  history 
of  the  new  Virginia,  from  Appomattox  to  the  present  day,  is  one 
of  which  any  people  may  well  be  proud,  and  which  points  to  great 
success  for  the  future.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  war  the  people 
of  Virginia  found  their  homes  desolated,  their  fields  devastated, 
fences  in  ruin,  implements  of  agriculture  gone,  labor  disorganized, 
financial  credit  destroyed,  and  every  family  in  mourning.  No 
people  had  greater  difficulties  to  solve,  greater  obstacles  to  over- 
come, than  the  Virginians  in  1865.  The  story  of  the  rehabilitation 
of  Virginia  is  one  in  which  every  Virginian  can  feel  a  pardonable 
pride.  The  banking  capital  of  Virginia,  in  proportion  to  popula- 
tion, is  larger  than  that  of  any  other  Southern  State,  and  we  are 
fortunate  now  in  having  our  own  capital  largely  to  aid  our  develop- 
ment. Industrially  Virginia  is  richer,  more  progressive,  and  has 
greater  possibility  than  ever  before  in  history.  There  are  bright 
prospects  for  great  wealth  in  this  State  in  every  direction. 

ASSESSED  VALUES  OF  BEDFORD  COUNTY 

Value  of  real  estate  in  the  County $3,556,373.03 

Tax  on  real  estate  for  1906 43,807.77 

Value  of  personal  property 1,252,634.00 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  57 

Tax  on  personal  property  for  1906 $16,603.23 

Poll  tax  for    1906 9,030.00 

Dog  tax  for  1906 1,435.00 

lax  on  merchants,  lawyers,  doctors,  etc.,  in  Central  District. 

which  includes  Bedford  City,  for  1906 3,607.02 

Retail  liquor  license    tax  in  Central  District  for  1906 1,750.00 

Tax  on  N.  &  W.   R.   R.,   37   miles 5,446.00 

Tax  on  C.   &  O.   R.  R.,   18  miles 2,934.00 

Tax  on  Tidewater  R.  R.,  32  miles,  not  assessed  yet. 


UNEARNED  INCREMENT  MULTIPLIES 

Any  part  of  the  County  of  Bedford  can  be  taken  for  the  purpose 
of  making  comparison  of  the  enhancement  of  real  estate  values, 
but  perhaps  no  more  striking  example  showing  the  multiplication 
of  the  "unearned  increment"  and  a  concrete  idea  of  how  vast  values 
have  risen  in  the  past  decade  in  the  rural  and  municipal  districts 
of  this  county  can  be  given  than  by  citing  actual  prices  that  have 
been  obtained  for  properties  sold.  The  records  show  that  600  acres 
of  good  rich  red  soil  sold  for  $16,000.  In  a  few  years  the  same 
property  brought  $23,000  and  the  owner  has  refused  an  offer  of 
$100  per  acre  for  250  acres.  This  property  is  assessed  at  $11,000. 
building  at  $1,000,  tax  is  $140,00.  i^nother  place,  421  acres,  sold 
for  $900,  and  in  less  than  twelve  months  it  brought  $1,500;  a 
third  sale  has  recently  been  made  for  $2,500,  taxes  $20.  Six 
hundred  and  seven  acres  sold  for  $4,700  less  than  two  years  ago, 
assessed  at  $3,400,  taxes  $40  ;  refused  $10,000  ;  could  not  be  bought 
for  less  than  $15,000.  Seven  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  sold 
for  $8,000,  resold  two  hundred  acres  for  $4,000,  total  assessment 
$3,800,  taxes  $50.  Five  hundred  and  thirty  acres  sold  for  $6,500, 
assessed  at  $3,800,  taxes  $50 ;  has  repeatedly  refused  $11,000 ;  build- 
ing assessed  at  $800.  Forty-eight  acres  sold  at  $450,  in  less  than  two 
years  sold  for  $700,  in  1907  offered  $1,000,  assessed  at  $400,  taxes 
$5,  building  $200.  One  hundred  and  sixty  acres  assessed  at 
^3,700,  taxes  $46,  buildings  assessed  at  $2,000 ;  offers  at  $60,  $100, 
$150  and  $200  per  acre  have  been  refused.  These  instances  of  in- 
creased valuations  are  selected  at  random  and  could  be  augmented 
lay  hundreds  of  others  of  equal  interest.  The  all-absorbing  topic 
of  the  present  is  the  possession  of  real  estate,  and  the  enjoyment 
■of  prosperity,  in  comparison  with  the  impoverished  past. 


58  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


MINERALS 


In  Bedford  Comity  chief  among  the  metallic  ores  may  be 
mentioned  iron,  which  occurs  in  this  county  in  the  form  of 
magnetic,  brown  hematite  and  red  hematite  or  specular  ores. 
The  only  one  of  these  three  varieties  worthy  of  mention  is  the 
brown  hematite,  a  very  large  bed  of  which  extends  through  the 
mountains  bordering  the  county  on  the  western  and  northwestern 
extremity  and  is  mined  and  smelted  by  the  Crozier  Steel  and  Iron 
Company  of  Eoanoke,  Va.  The  other  varieties  have  merely  been 
prospected  sufficiently  to  confirm  the  surface  evidence  of  their 
existence  in  quantity.  Among  the  other  metallic  ores  known  to 
exist  in  the  county  are  copper,  zinc,  galena  and  magnesia.  Asbestos 
is  found  upon  Staunton  Eiver,  Goose  Creek,  Big  Otter  Eiver,  and 
i;'.  many  other  sections  of  the  county  in  inexhaustible  quantities. 
The  Tidewater  Eailroad  passes  directly  through  the  mineral  section, 
affording  transportation  to  Norfolk,  and  then  by  water  to  the  great 
commerce.  These  mines  can  furnish  a  car  load  per  day  for  the 
next  two  generations  to  come.  Kaolin  is  found  in  different 
localities  but  has  never  been  mined  to  any  extent.  Some  of  the 
largest  and  finest  beds  of  soapstone,  free  from  grit,  can  be  found 
ir  great  volumes  in  different  sections  of  the  county.  Mica,  lime- 
stone, cement,  ocher,  umber  and  graphite  can  be  found  scattered 
all  over  the  county;  slate  flagging-stone  of  exact  rectangular 
cleavage  and  of  almost  any  dimensions,  can  be  obtained  along 
Goose  Creek,  and  Big  Otter  Eiver,  in  sufficient  quantities  to 
justify  the  establishment  of  quarries  of  great  magnitude,  which 
could  employ  a  large  force  of  hands  profitably,  as  slabs  of  immense 
proportions  could  be  easily  obtained.  This  material  is  impervious 
to  heat  or  cold,  though  soft  and  easy  to  dress,  when  fresh  from 
the  quarry;  yet  when  exposed  it  becomes  very  hard,  and  speci- 
mens that  have  been  used  for  front  door  steps  for  over  a  century, 
show  no  wear,  though  exposed  to  the  elements  and  to  the  constant 
tread  of  man.  Feldspar  in  large  quantities  can  be  obtained  on 
Big  Otter  Eiver  and  is  now  being  mined.  Fire-clay,  barytes, 
plumbago,  yellow  ocher,  and  other  minerals  have  been  found  and 
samples  of  many  of  these  minerals  are  exhibited  at  Jamestown, 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  5» 

Our  mineral  products  alone  should,  when  fully  developed,  put 
this  county  on  a  financial  basis  with  the  rich  coal  counties  of  the 
southwest.  This  will  be  in  the  near  future,  as  we  shall  have  three 
well-equipped  railroads  passing  through  our  county  from  west 
to  east,  over  easy  grades.  Many  engineers  and  contractors  of  Jong 
experience  will  testify  to  the  hardness  of  this  Bedford  County 
granite,  with  which  they  have  come  in  contact  along  the  lines  of 
the  new  routes  through  the  coimty. 

MINERAL  WATERS  ' 

Bedford  County  is  within  that  area  of  Virginia  which  has 
achieved  world-wide  fame  for  the  abundance  and  varied  character 
of  its  mineral  waters.  It  abounds  in  mineral  springs,  most  of 
them  are  of  strong  chalybeate  character,  while  many  of  them  are 
more  or  less  impregnated  with  sulphur,  alum,  carbonate,  and 
sulphur  of  lime,  carbonate  of  magnesia  and  other  mineral  elements. 
Some  have  a  very  marked  effect  upon  cutaneous  and  eruptive 
diseases  and  all  contain  strong  tonic  properties.  In  some  sections 
these  springs  are  especially  numerous,  some  of  them  maintain  a 
temperature  of  from  72  to  74  degrees  throughout  the  entire  year^ 
Adjacent  to  these  springs  there  is  an  eminence  that  commands  a 
fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  the  railroads  and  the  Blue 
Eidge  Mountains  for  many  miles.  A  hotel  or  sanatorium  located 
at  this  point  could  be  supplied  with  a  never-failing  stream  of  this 
health-giving  water,  that  has  yet  its  first  case  of  eczema,  itch,  scald 
head,  piles,  etc.,  to  turn  away  unhealed. 

For  sporting  characters  a  race  track  could  be  here  constructed, 
v/hich  would  entirely  encircle  the  sanatorium  on  a  level  grade 
and  at  the  same  time  be  in  plain  view  of  an  observer  from  the 
hotel  porch  for  the  distance  of  more  than  one  mile.  Nature  has 
done  everything  to  make  this  one  of  the  greatest  health  resorts 
on  the  continent.  Who  will  be  the  first  to  provide  a  shelter  and 
make  it  known  to  the  afflicted  thousands? 


60 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA. 


MANUFACTURES 


61 


Tobacco  manufactures,  grist  and  patent  roller  process    flouring 
irills,  cio-ar  factories,  Avoolen  mills,  pulp  and  paper  mills,  alummum 
mills'   paint  mills,   cement   mills,   tomato   canning   factories,   saw 
niills^  stave  mills,  box  factories;  in  fact,  all  kinds  of  manufactures 
thus  far  attempted  in  Bedford  have  met  with  success.     The  ex- 
perience of  the  woolen  mill  is  a  striking  illustration^ of  the  truth 
of  this  statement.     In  competition  with  the  mills  of  this  entire 
country   it  has  repeatedlv  secured  government  orders  for  thousands 
of  yards  of  goods  for  the  U.  S.  Marine  Corps.     The  Government 
purchasing  agents  say  that  the  peculiar  merit  of  the  goods  is  m 
the  uniformity  and  permanence  of  the  coloring;  merits  attributable 
to  the  absolute  chemical  purity  of  the  water  used  in  dyeing,  scour- 
ing and  fullino-  purposes;  so  that  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods, 
mdeed  of  anv  goods  involving  the  use  of  dyes,  finds  here  a  specially 
favorable  condition,  in  addition  to  those  of  good  climate,  cheap 
labor,  cheap  fuel,  low  taxes,  easy  accessibility,  cheap  raw  material, 
etc     etc      As  exhibiting  another  inducement  to  the  grazier   and 
stock  raiser,  it  mav  be  said,  incidentally,  that  of  the  amount  of  wool 
required  bv   the  mill,   onlv   a  very   small  percentage   can  be   ob- 
tained  in  Bedford.   County,   although   the   full  market  price  can 
be  obtained  without  the  charges  of  freight,  commission  on  sale, 
or  anv  cost  of  sale.     The  same  inducement  holds  good  m  the 
case  of  the  tobacco  planter.     Ten  times  the  amount  of  the  present 
sales  of  tobacco  could  be  bought  and  handled  with  ease  at  Bedford 
City,  and  as  we  have  a  large  area  of  the  best  dark  tobacco  land  that 
can  be  found  anvwhere  in  the  country,  there  is  no  reason  why 
the  crops  should  not  be  increased  many  fold  in  the  next  few  years, 
if  the  present  price  for  tobacco  continues  to  be  obtained.     The 
outlook   for   the  tobacco    raiser   is   encouraging   in   this    section.; 
readv  buvers,  with  ample  capital  are  at  your  door  to  take  every 
plant  that  is  raised.     In  fact  everything  that  can  be  spared  by  the 
farmer  or  the  good  housewife,  will  sell  readily  at  good  prices. 
Our  facilities  for  reaching  nearby  markets  are  unsurpassed.     There 
are  now  residents  in  the  countv  from  many  of  the  northern,  north- 
western  and   western    States,   who   will  bear   cheerful,   conclusive 
tostimonv  to  the   sood  will   and  neighborly  treatment  they  have 


■62  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

ever  experienced  from  the  natives  of  Bedford.  A  settler  from  a 
western  state  sa}-s :  "In  a  long  life  spent  in  many  parts  of  the 
world  I  have  never  been  among  a  more  kindly  and  hospitable 
people.  The  moral  tone  of  the  community  is  unusually  high, 
Bedford  County  is  a  good  place  to  live  in  and  raise  a  family.  Any 
one  may  make  a  comfortable  living  here,  at  the  minimum  of  effort. 
The  soil  will  produce  under  proper  care  and  management  all  the 
products  of  the  temperate  zone.  I  have  lived  in  this  county  a 
number  of  years,  and  find  the  climate  healthful  and  invigorating." 

CEMENT  WORKS 

The  Eidgemont  Manufacturing  Co.,  located  at  Ironville,  Bed- 
ford County,  Va.,  is  the  seat  of  the  first  cement  works  established 
in  Virginia.  The  James  Eiver  cement  was  made  here  60  or  70 
years  back.  Present  works  have  a  capacity  of  500  bbls.  daily  of 
natural  rock  cement.  Brands:  "Standard  Eosendalt,"  and  "Eidge- 
mont Hydraulic."  This  cement  has  an  extensive  sale  throughout 
different  sections  of  the  county. 

PAINT  WORKS 

A  few  years  ago  a  gentleman  from  Detroit,  Michigan,  was 
visiting  a  friend  who  had  located  in  this  county.  Many  drives  were 
made  in  and  around  Bedford  City,  when  all  at  once  he  became 
very  much  infatuated  with  an  old  hilly  homestead  that  had  been 
the  victim  of  very  rough  treatment  at  the  hands  of  careless,  in- 
different tenants,  though  the  legatees  were  descendants  of  one  of 
the  most  learned  and  distinguished  jurists  of  ante-bellum  days. 
The  old  mansion  house  was  admirably  located  and  commanded  a 
fine  view  of  the  noble  Peaks  of  Otter  and  the  Blue  Eidge  ^Mountains 
for  many  miles.  As  soon  as  the  man  from  the  Lake  shore  beheld 
this  magnificent  view  from  the  front  porch  and  from  under  the 
thick  shade  in  the  yard,  he  was  spellbound  and  turning  to  his 

friend  said  emphatically :     "I ,  if  I  do  not  want  this  farm. 

I  will  give  $6,000  cash  for  the  400  acres."  It  was  bought.  He 
moved  down.  A  modern  dwelling  was  built  in  an  adjoining  grove 
to  the  old  mansion  yard.  One  day  strolling  over  the  many  hills, 
he  was  struck  with  the  extremely  rich  red  soil.  Samples  were  pro- 
cured,  analysis   was   made.     Chemist   and  expert  had   their  say. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  63 

Eesult:  A  $30,000  paint  factory  is  established  with  modem 
machinery,  thousands  of  barrels  of  the  dry  pigment  manufactured. 
and  the  mixed  paint  is  now  being  sold  in  all  sections  of  the  Union. 
On  brick,  iron  and  tin  it  has  few  equals.  One  could  hardly  imagine 
what  a  wonderful  change  could  be  wrought  by  a  coat  of  this  paint 
on  old  brick  dwellings.  Old  Bedford  has  many  such  hidden 
treasures,  only  waiting  for  the  practical  man  of  energy,  push,  and 
means  to  develop  them. 

ALUMINUM  MILLS 

This  is  located  in  this  county  on  the  James  Eiver  division  of  the 
Chesapeake  &  Ohio  Eailway,  and  is  a  manufacturing  plant  of  won- 
derful power  and  capacity.  The  magnificent  water  power  of  the 
James  river  is  augmented  by  an  electrical  plant  of  wonderful  force. 
Some  of  the  mineral  used  in  this  factory  comes  all  the  way  from 
Asia  Minor.  The  products  are  said  to  be  used  by  the  Govern- 
ment in  the  manufacture  of  projectiles,  and  also  for  the  protection 
of  armored  cruisers.  The  great  intensity  of  the  heat  generated 
at  this  plant  is  wonderful  to  observe.  The  rapid  flow  of  an  abun- 
dant supply  of  water  on  one  side  of  the  mill  and  the  C.  &  0.  Eail- 
road  on  the  other,  with  its  never-ceasing  chain  of  coal  cars  pass- 
ing all  hours  of  the  day  and  night,  make  these  locations  for 
factories  something  to  be  considered  by  future  industries  seeking 
new  fields  of  enterprise.  Cheap  lands,  cheap  pov/ers,  cheap  coal, 
and  low  taxes  are  points  to  be  considered  when  a  new  site  is  desired 
for  any  enterprise.  ISTearby  and  up  the  river  are  two  large  pulp 
and  paper  mills  referred  to  on  another  page  in  this  pamphlet,  and 
there  are  many  others  at  different  points  along  this  river  about  and 
below  our  county's  line.  Should  pure  fresh  water  be  needed,  it 
can  be  obtained  where  the  numerous  streams  from  this  county 
empty  into  the  rivers  both  on  the  James  and  on  the  Staunton,  the 
fall  in  both  rivers  being  about  the  same.  Ample  water  power  for 
large  mills  could  be  obtained  if  desired  at  low  prices. 

PULP  AND  PAPER  MILLS 

These  mills  are  located  on  James  Eiver  and  front  on  the  C. 
&  0.  Eailroad  at  Big  Island  and  Coleman's  Falls  in  Bedford 
County.     The  machines  are  operated  by  water  and  steam  power 


64  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

and  have  the  capacity  of  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  tons  of  pulp 
every  twenty-four  hours.  The  paper  mill  at  Big  Island  is  run  by  the 
same  povi^ers  and  has  the  capacity  of  about  thirty  to  forty  tons  of 
paper  every  twenty-four  hours.  Papers  manufactured  are  manila, 
news,  hanging,  drawing,  pattern,  fiber,  and  porter.  This  com- 
pany is  operated  by  Eichmond  capital,  employs  a  large  number 
of  hands,  and  consumes  thousands  of  cords  of  poplar  and  pine 
wood  annually. 

With  the  vast  amount  of  imdeveloped  water  power  in  every 
section  of  this  county,  but  more  especially  on  the  north  and  south 
sides  and  through  the  centres,  Bedford  should  have  a  dozen  such 
paper  mills,  with  the  raw  material  right. at  its  doors,  and  ample 
transportation  facilities.  Many  natural  locations  could  be 
selected  where  a  short  high  dam  could  be  easily  constructed  and  a 
tremendous  water  power  obtained  at  a  nominal  cost.  Sand  and 
rock  being  on  the  ground  or  nearby,  cement  and  labor  would  be  the 
only  costly  items  in  the  construction  of  the  dam  and  foundation. 

The  demand  for  paper  is  great  and  increasing,  the  old  fields  are 
burdened  with  rapid-growing  pine  and  the  undeveloped  water 
power  is  gently  gliding  by,  never  to  be  recalled.  Who  will  be  the 
next  to  harness  these  restless  waters  and  turn  them  into  money? 

ASBESTOS 

The  American  Asbestos  Company  has  in  operation  at  Bedford 
City,  Virginia,  a-  large  manufacturing  plant,  equipped  with  the 
best  and  most  improved  machinery,  which  can  turn  out  from 
thirty  to  fifty  tons  of  the  manufactured  article  daily,  ready  for 
commercial  use.  These  ores  are  obtained  from  the  company's 
mines,  which  are  located  some  fifteen  miles  south  of  Bedford  City, 
and  are  now  being  mined  and  hauled  by  wagons  to  the  mills.  The 
new  Tidewater  Eailroad  passes  directly  through  a  portion  of 
these  valuable  mines,  which  will  lessen  the  cost  of  hauling.  This 
ifc  one  of  the  few  industries  that  have  been  established  in  our 
midst  in  the  last  few  years,  almost  entirely  by  outside  capital, 
and  it  is  destined  to  be  a  great  success,  if  pushed  to  its  full  capacity 
under  proper  and  judicious  management  and  supervision.  The 
ores  are  here  in  inexhaustible  quantities  and  should  be  mined  at 
a  minimum  cost  to  the  company.  The  constantly  increasing  de- 
mand  for   this   commercial   article   should   make   these   properties 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  65 

one  of  the  best  investments  in  this  section  of  the  country.  It 
is  an  interesting  sight  to  see  the  ponderous  machinery  pounding 
away  on  the  tenacious  fibres  for  a  considerable  time,  which  are  then 
taken  through  the  various  processes  of  reducing  and  reiining,  and 
finally  to  observe  the  powdered  article  ready  for  commercial 
use.  The  shipments  are  usually  made  in  car  load  lots.  These  fields 
of  development  and  industry  have  hardly  been  touched,  and 
thousands  of  acres  still  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  original  owners, 
which  can  be  bought  at  reasonable  figures. 


66 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


4,030 


AGRICULTURE 
CENSUS  REPORT  BEDFORD  COUNTY,  VIRGINIA,  1900 

Statements  of  number  of  acres  in  farms;  number  of  acres  im- 
proved; total  number  of  farms;  number  of  horses,  cattle  and 
other  live  stock,  and  acreage  and  yield  of  principal  farm  products, 
as  reported  for  the  census  of  1900 : 

Total  farm   acreage 432,479 

Total  acres  improved 249,956 

Population  of  County  1900.    30.356 

Total  number  of   farms. 

Acres. 

Corn    35,127 

Wheat    23,005 

Oats    15,975 

Irish    potatoes 642 

Sweet    potatoes 474 

Beans  and  peas 637 

Onions    22 

Clover   and   grass   seed 

Clover     

Alfalfa    

Tobacco    9,162 

Honey 

Eggs    


Rank 

Bushels. 

acreage. 

Pro 

735,000 

11 

7 

181.030 

10 

10 

187.760 

1 

1 

35,513 

13 

16 

28,027 

13 

20 

5,983 

3,243 

1.930 

1 

1 

5 

6 

Pounds. 

6,910,260 

4 

4 
1 
6 

Value. 

Valu€ 

$104,226 

5 

16 

All  other  vegetables 2,513 

Orchard  frviit,   etc 

Small  fruits    

Enumeration  of  live  stock  on  farms,   1900: 

Numier. 

Horses  and  colts 7,733 

Colts  under  one  year 

Colts  one  and  under  2  years 

Colts  2  years  and  over 

Cows     7,218 

Dairy  cows  2  years  and  over 

All  other  cattle 9,297 

Sheep    and    lambs 5,806 

Swine     15,869 

Calves  under  1  year 

Value  of   forest   products 


Rank. 

9 
7 
5 

4 
16 


$96,563 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  67 


TOBACCO 


In  1900,  Bedford  County  produced  6,910,260  pounds  of  tobacco, 
an  average  of  about  7,501  pounds  per  acre,  at  $7.00  per  100  pounds. 
This  would  be  $52.50  per  acre  or  $483,718.20  for  the  whole  crop. 
Samples  taken  from  all  grades  sold  at  public  auction  on  the  ware- 
house floors  at  Bedford  City  during  the  month  of  March,  1907, 
will  show  that  some  farmers  can  raise  dark  tobaccos  that  will 
weigh  from  1,200  to  1,500  pounds  per  acre,  and  that  will  bring 
from  $125  to  $175  per  acre.  These  samples,  with  the  prices 
attached,  will  be  on  exhibition  at  Jamestown,  Virginia,  this  year; 
235  pounds  at  $5.00 ;  265  pounds  at  $5.50 ;  200  poimds  at  $8.00 ; 
210  pounds  at  $8.50 ;  100  pounds  at  $10.25 ;  140  pounds  at  $12.50  ; 
235  pounds  at  $15.50;  285  pounds  at  $18.00;  175  pounds  at 
$22.50;  315  pounds  at  $25.00,  making  a  total  of  2,155  pounds 
of  tobacco  from  7,000  hills  planted,  or  an  average  of  1,530  pounds 
per  acre.  The  total  amount  of  money  received  was  $292.64,  au 
average  of  $13.57  per  himdred  pounds,  or  an  average  of  $209.00 
per  acre.  This  land  was  a  part  of  an  estimate  of  over  500  acres 
that  had  been  run  down  by  negro  labor,  before  the  war ;  tol)acco  and 
tenants,  since  the  war.  The  present  owner  bought  off  1821/0  acres 
in  18—  at  $5.50  per  acre.  This  land  is  assessed  at  $1,002.38, 
taxes  $13.03.  The  owner  has  built  houses,  made  fences,  and  im- 
proved the  land  generally;  he  considers  his  real  estate  richly  worth 
$5,000.  This  section  of  the  county  located  along  Stony  Fork  Creek, 
ic  especially  adapted  to  the  growth  of  that  fine,  dark,  tough,  silky, 
wrapper,  that  always  commands  a  very  high  price  on  our  local 
markets.  A  good  man  and  a  boy  can  cultivate  four  acres  in  tobacco, 
i.e,  about  20,000  plants,  and  have  time  to  look  after  the  stock  and  a 
small  crop  of  corn,  wheat,  oats  and  hay.  The  Bedford  City  ware- 
houses commense  selling  tobacco  on  the  first  of  September  in  each 
year,  and  stop  the  last  day  of  July ;  the  amount  of  tobacco  sold  at 
these  warehouses  for  the  year  ending  July  31,  1906,  was  1,837,595 
pounds,  and  brought  $127,290.11,  an  average  of  $6.92  per  100 
pounds.  For  seven  months,  ending  the  31st  of  March,  1907,  the 
same  warehouses  sold  2,  105,547  pounds  for  $147,553.94,  an  average 
of  $7.00  per  100  pounds.    At  least  two-thirds  of  the  crops  of  tobacco 


68  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

raised  in  Bedford  County  are  sold  in  Lynchburg  and  some  little  in 
Danville,  Va.  With  a  good  tobacco  market  right  in  the  center  of  the 
county,  Bedford  should,  be  the  first  county  in  the  State  instead 
of  the  fourth,  as  she  was  in  1900.  Tobacco  from  this  county 
stands  at  the  top  in  Lynchburg  and  Richmond.  In  1892,  when 
the  whole  State  of  Virginia,  had  a  competitive  exposition  of  farm 
products  at  Richmond,  the  State  Capital,  Bedford  had  the  honor 
of  carrying  off  the  first  prize  on  dark  tobacco  and  the  first  prize 
on  light  tobacco. 

AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTS 

The  principal  agricultural  products  of  Bedford  County  are  to- 
bacco, wheat,  corn  and  oats.  Besides  which  there  are  products  in 
smaller  quantities,  but  of  most  excellent  quality :  rye,  buckwheat, 
sorghum,  clover,  alfalfa,  soja  beans,  peas,  and  timothy  hay.  All  the 
vegetables  come  to  great  perfection.  Apples,  pears,  peaches,  grapes, 
strawberries,  cherries,  melons  and  other  fruits,  cannot  be  surpased. 
The  rank  that  Bedford  County  holds  in  these  respects  among  the 
counties  of  Virginia,  is  shown  by  the  award  received  by  her  exhibits 
at  the  State  Exhibition  held  in  Richmond  in  1892.  In  competi- 
tion with  the  other  counties,  her  awards  were  as  follows : 

First  premium :  Second  premium : 
WTieat,  Pease, 

Corn,  Fruits, 

Mineral,  Root  crops. 

Dark  tobacco,  Light  tobacco, 

Oats,  Irish  potatoes. 

J'  '         ,  Third  premium : 
Sweet  potatoes,  ^,,  ,  , , 

„^     -,-,,.    1  Other  vegetables. 

Wood  and  timber. 

Agricultural  products. 

DARK  TOBACCO  EXHIBITS 
Jamestown,  Virginia,    1907 

This  leaf  tobacco  exhibit  was  selected  by  Mr.  John  T.  Edwards 
and   Messrs.   Alberta   &   Company   from   tobacco   that  had   been 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  69 

bought  on  the  warehouse  floors  at  Bedford  City,  Virginia,  without 
any  picking  or  culling,  but  just  as  the  tobacco  came  from  the  Bed- 
ford County  farmers.  These  commercial  samples  will  represent 
the  domestic,  German,  Austrian  and  Italian  types  of  tobacco  raised 
in  this  county,  and  the  rich,  dark,  tough,  silky  wrappers,  for 
-which  this  section  is  so  famous,  and  for  which  fancy  prices  are  al- 
ways obtained.  Great  credit  is  due  these  experienced  dealers  in 
dark  tobacco  for  this  excellent  exhibition,  which  they  procured  on 
such  a  short  notice,  after  the  bulk  of  the  crop  had  been  sold. 
May  the  honors  of  1892  be  again  bestowed  upon  our  dark  "weed." 

ALFALFA 

The  soil  of  Bedford  County  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  growth 
of  alfalfa,  as  has  been  shown  by  its  successful  cultivation  in  differ- 
ent sections  of  the  county.  If  cut  at  the  right  time,  properly 
cured  and  cared  for,  it  has  few  equals  as  a  hay.  It  can  be  raised 
at  a  cost  of  from  $3.00  to  $5.00  a  ton.  A  ton  and  a  half  of  alfalfa 
hay,  that  has  as  much  protein  as  a  ton  of  bran,  will  cost  you  from 
$23.00  to  $25.00  per  ton.  Horses,  cattle,  hogs,  sheep  and  fowls 
will  eat  it  in  the  dry  state  almost  as  readily  as  they  will  in  the  green 
state,  and  do  well.  It  is  a  great  improver  of  the  soil  and  when 
unobstructed  its  roots  will  penetrate  the  soil  for  10  or  20  feet.  Its 
value  is  so  great  as  a  feed  that  some  claim  that  an  acre  well  set  in 
alfalfa  is  worth  $100.00,  and  a  hundred  acres  well  set  in  alfalfa 
is  worth  $10,000.00.  As  a  mortgage  lifter,  at  the  present  price 
of  hay,  alfalfa  could  not  possibly  have  an  equal.  Although  it  is 
necessary  to  go  to  some  expense  in  order  to  put  the  soil  in  proper 
condition  for  alfalfa,  yet  the  meadow  is  so  valuable  when  established, 
and  should  yield  profitable  results  for  so  many  years,  that  extra 
time  and  expense  are  amply  repaid.  Nine-tenths  of  the  alfalfa 
lands  in  Bedford  County,  that  are  not  producing  a  ton  of  hay  to  the 
acre,  could  easily  produce  from  four  to  five  tons  of  alfalfa  hay,  under 
proper  culture  and  care,  and  at  the  same  time  be  a  great  source  of 
income  to  the  owner.  The  following  statement  will  show  what 
three-fourths  of  an  acre  of  Bedford's  stiff,  tough,  red  soil  has  done 
in  alfalfa  during  the  past  three  years.  This  land  was  carefully 
prepared  and  seeded  down,  on  the  third  of  May,  1903,  without 


70  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

iuoculation  of  any  kind.  The  third  cutting  in  Septeml^er  was  ciired 
for  hay,  the  other  two  cuttings  going  to  the  laud : 


Cuttings 

190'i. 

1905. 

1906. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pomtds. 

1.     May    ... 

.  .    1,500 

:\lay  .  . 

..    1,800 

May    15.. 

..   2,000 

2.     June     .  . 

..   2,000 

June.  . 

..    2,200 

June  19.  . 

..    2,500 

3.     July      .  . 

.  .    1,500 

July.. 

..    1,800 

July    26.. 

.  .    2,000 

4.     Sept.     .  . 

.  .    l.GOO 

Sept.  . 

.  .    1,800 

Sept.     1 .  . 

.  .   2,000 

Totals     .  .  .  . 

..    6,600 

7,600 

8,500 

Averages     .  . 

,  ..   8,800 

10,113 

11,333  per  acre 

The  fifth  crop  during  the  fall  of  1906  attained  to  the  height  of 
20  inches,  but  was  cured  as  a  pasture  until  late  in  the  winter,  and, 
at  this  writing,  the  15th  of  April,  1907,  the  alfalfa  on  this  three- 
fourths  of  an  acre  will  average  over  15  inches.  A  sample  of  this 
alfalfa  hay  crop  for  1906  will  be  on  exhibition  at  Jamestown,  Va. 
Had  the  owner  sold  his  8,500  pounds  of  hay  on  the  Bedford  City 
market  at  the  price  now  prevailing  for  hay,  i.  e.,  $1.25  per  100 
pounds,  his  three-fourths  of  an  acre  of  land  would  have  brought 
him  the  nice  little  sum  of  $106.25.  As  a  soil  feeder,  alfalfa  has 
few  if  any  equals.  Set  apart  such  an  acre  as  you  think  will  carry 
your  cow  for  a  month,  and  you  can  cut  morning,  noon  and  night 
for  thirty  days,  then  start  where  you  began  and  continue  to  repeat 
the  cutting  process  until  the  close  of  the  season.  The  tobacco  lots 
are  good  places  to  grow  alfalfa.  To  get  a  good  stand  of  alfalfa  is 
worth  any  farmer's  most  persistent  efforts,  for  it  will  enable  him 
to  cut  down  very  materially  his  feed  bills.  It  is  a  good  substitute 
for  bran,  offal  and  other  mill  feeds.  It  is  the  best  feed  for  the 
dairy,  and  for  all  kinds  of  young  stock.  Hogs  winter  well  on  it, 
with  very  little  grain.  There  is  nothing  better  for  sheep.  Chickens 
relish  it  green  or  dry.  Let  every  farmer  in  the  county,  old  and 
new-comers,  put  forth  strenuous  efforts  to  try  to  secure  a  good  stand 
o^"  alfalfa  on  a  well  selected  flat  of  his  farm,  and  if  he  succeed,  then 
try  to  keep  hoof  of  every  kind  off  for  three  or  four  years. 

CRIMSON  CLOVER 

All  thin  land  planted  in  corn  should  be  seeded  to  German  clover 
in  July  and  August,  using  a  little  bone  meal.  Should  this  process 
be  continued  for  six  or  eight  vears,  the  yield  of  corn  will  gradually 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  71 

increase,  the  crop  of  hay  will  be  larger  and  the  amount  of  nitrogen 
taken  in,  will  so  enrich  the  land  that  it  can  be  set  in  grass  or  al- 
falfa. This  clover  cut  at  the  right  time,  securely  housed,  and  pro- 
tected from  the  damp  weather,  will  make  a  safe,  rich  food  for  any 
kind  of  stock,  and  at  the  same  time  return  to  the  soil  nitrogen 
enough  to  more  than  pay  for  the  seed  and  culture.  Why  is  it  that 
our  farmers  do  not  adopt  these  cheap  methods  of  surely  enriching 
their  lands,  instead  of  mortgaging  their  crops,  before  they  are 
planted  for  fertilizing,  which  often  does  not  improve  their  lands? 
Take  a  poor,  Avell-drained  lot  of  our  Bedford  red  sub-soil  land  and 
treat  it  to  corn,  crimson  clover,  and  pure  bone  process,  for  seven 
years,  and  see  if  your  corn  will  not  go  from  two  to  eight  barrels  per 
acre  and  your  land  increase  in  value  tenfold.  By  taking  a  new  piece 
of  poor  land  each  year  and  going  through  the  treatment,  and  after 
each  acre  has  taken  in  from  $15.00  to  $20.00  worth  of  nitrogen,  it 
should  be  seeded  to  alfalfa,  which  will  yield  from  four  to  five  crops 
annually  for  a  mumber  of  years.  By  this  means  Bedford  County 
would  soon  move  up  from  sixth  county  in  the  State  in  the  pro- 
duct of  alfalfa  to  the  first,  as  she  now  is  in  clover. 

PEAS  AND  SOY  BEANS 

The  pea,  before  the  war,  was  planted  on  thin  land,  sowed  in  rows 
alternating  with  corn,  and  was  relished  as  a  vegetable  in  the  green 
state ;  later  it  was  sown  in  the  corn  at  the  last  planting  and  used  as 
a  fertilizer.  Now  great  fields  of  peas  can  be  found  in  all  sections 
of  the  county  and  is  used  as  a  great  land  improver,  and  a  hay  crop. 
A  mixture  of  a  bushel  of  peas  and  a  peck  of  sorghum  seed  to  the 
acre,  makes  one  of  the  finest  feeds  for  stock  that  can  be  raised. 
Take  a  stack  pole  eleven  feet  long,  plant  it  one  foot  in  the 
ground  at  convenient  intervals  around  the  field,  and,  after  the  peas 
have  been  cut  by  the  mower,  place  six  five-foot  braces  at  equal 
intervals  around  the  eleven-foot  pole,  with  one  end  on  the  ground 
and  the  other  tacked  to  the  pole  one  and  a  half  feet  from  the  earth. 
As  soon  after  the  mowing  as  it  takes  to  set  a  pole  and  brace  it  as 
above  described,  you  can  commence  to  stack  the  green  pease  and  sor 
ghum  hay  around  these  poles,  carrying  the  moulds  up  perpendicu- 
larly, capping  off  with  a  slope  and  a  big  fork  full  right  on  the  top 
of  the  pole,  so  as  to  keep  the  rain  from  following  down  the  pole. 


HimOJUCAL    SKETCH 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  73 

Don't  allow  any  one  to  get  on  the  shock  while  stacking.  The  air 
will  pass  under  and  up  the  pole,  curing  the  whole  shock  sweet,  and 
green  in  color.  Though  the  season  of  1906  was  extremely  dark 
and  rainy,  this  method  was  followed  to  a  successful  conclusion.  At 
no  time  were  more  pease  cut  than  could  be  promptly  gotten  up  be- 
fore they  wilted.  As  house  room  was  scarce,  this  entire  field 
of  hay  stood  out  all  winter;  the  last  shock  was  taken  in  on  the 
fourth  week  in  April,  sound,  sweet  and  of  a  bright  green  color. 
N'o  waste  in  feeding,  as  it  was  eagerly  consumed  by  both  horses  and 
cattle.  The  same  will  be  tried  again  this  season;  the  yield  last 
season  was  about  two  tons  of  dry  hay  per  acre.  The  soy  bean  has 
not  been  as  extensively  cultivated  in  this  county  as  the  different 
kinds  of  peas,  yet  it  has  given  good  satisfaction  as  a  land  improver. 
The  yield  of  green  forage  has  been  large,  and  much  easier  to  cure 
and  save  than  the  peas;  as  an  entire  feed  for  milch  cows  it  hasn't 
an  equal  in  anything  that  has  ever  come  undcT  my  observation,  and 
t]iey  seem  to  prefer  it  above  all  other  rations.  The  same  methods  of 
curing  peas  have  been  tried  with  the  soy  beans  with  line  results. 
The  high  price  for  seed  will  curtail  the  acreag:  for  this  season,  but 
v.'ith  better  preparations  and  a  sure  planting  of  every  seed  sown,  the 
'Crops  will  be  equally  good,  if  not  better,  for  light  culture  will  surely 
iiicrease  the  yield  and  a  less  number  of  seed  can  be  used. 

MILK,  CREAM  ANO  BUTTER 

There  are  a  good  many  small  private  dairies  in  this  county,  which 
have  been  run  successfully,  and  the  local  demands  for  these  products 
at  Bedford  City,  Lynchburg  and  Eoanoke,  have  made  these  indus- 
tries a  continuous  source  of  income.  The  demand  is  greater  than 
ihe  supply,  and  hundreds  of  such  establishments  could  be  main- 
tained in  this  section,  and  all  could  be  making  money  at  the  prices 
that  are  now  demanded.  Buttermilk,  16  cents  per  gallon;  sweet  milk 
30  cents  per  gallon;  cream,  $1.25  per  gallon;  butter,  35  cents  per 
pound.  The  general  custom  is  to  make  yearly  contracts  with  pri- 
vate families  to  furnish  so  much  each  week,  at  stated  prices;  thus 
your  market  does  not  fluctuate  with  the  seasons,  but  you  know  when 
your  products  are  measured  or  weighed,  before  you  leave  home  for 
the  city,  what  you  are  going  to  get.  Those  most  distant  only  mar- 
ket butter  and  cream.  The  hand  separators  are  much  in  use  and 
facilitate  the  handling  of  sweet  cream.  The  number  of  cows  in 
«ach  herd  could  be  kept  at  the  minimum  if  we  had  a  few  like  "Black 


74  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Bess"  from  "Wheats  Valley,"  who  has  been  known  to  give  ten  gal- 
lons per  day  for  ninety  consecutive  days,  on  clover,  grass  and  a  peck 
of  wheat  bran.  The  owner  has  recently  declined  $150.00  for  her, 
though  she  is  in  her  ninth  year.     She  is  a  black  poll — mongrel. 

At  the  prices  at  which  hay,  soja  beans,  sorghum,  etc.,  can  be 
raised  in  this  county,  Bedford  should  have  many  coooperative  cream- 
eries and  cheese  factories. 

BEES 

Bedford  being  one  of  the  banner  fruit  counties  of  the  State,  it 
vt^ould  naturally  follow  that  the  honey  bee  would  flourish  where 
flowers  and  fruits  come  to  great  perfection.  There  are  tons  and  tons 
of  nectar  going  to  waste,  that  could  be  safely  housed  in  little  one- 
pound  eases  and  turned  into  money,  if  the  farmer,  and  even  the  busi-; 
ness  men  in  the  town,  would  only  procure  a  few  colonies  and  make  a 
start  in  bees.  We  get  our  honey  from  a  very  great  variety  of  flowersj 
white  and  red  clovers,  some  wood  fruit  and  berries,  sour  wood  and 
honey  dew  on  the  pine  and  some  other  trees,  buckwheat,  chickweed, 
maple,  fruit  blossoms,  salad,  kale,  clover,  holly,  Spanish  needles, 
purple  boneset,  and  a  host  of  others.  The  average  yield  per  colony 
is  about  48  to  72  pounds  and  upward.  Bedford  County  is  an 
ideal  honey  section.  Our  honey  is  classed  as  "fancy"  and  number 
one,  and  commands  good  prices  in  all  our  towns  and  cities;  the  de- 
mand cannot  be  supplied ;  one  farmer  in  the  county  has  been  known 
to  gather  as  much  as  fourteen  tons  of  honey  in  one  season.  Bedford 
County  stands  at  the  top  round  for  honey  in  the  State  of  Virginia, 
as  shown  by  the  census  returns  for  1900.  Beginners  should  ])ro- 
cure  a  few  modern  hives,  buy  the  A  B  C  of  Bee  Culture,  published 
l)y  the  Boot  Company,  of  Medina,  Ohio;  get  a  good  smoker  and 
veil,  and  then  you  will  be  ready  for  business.  The  8-frame  dove- 
tailed movable  frame  hive  is  the  one  mostly  used  here  and  they  come 
cheap.  An  invalid  can  obtain  health,  recreation,  and  nice  income, 
on  a  small  space  in  this  vocation. 

APPLES 

The  altitude,  soil  and  climate  of  Bedford  County  make  it  the 
natural  home  of  the  apple.  N"o  country  in  the  State  offers  better 
advantages  to  the  fruit  grower  than  Bedford.  The  possession  of 
an  apple  orchard,  well  located,  planted  with  the  best  varieties  and 
properly  cared  for,  is  almost  a  perpetual  investment.  There  are 
apple  trees  in  this  county  one  hundred  years  old,  still  bearing  fruit. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  75 

All  agent  paid  a  farmer  $500.00  for  the  apples  of  five-sixths  of  an 
acre,  and  before  the  sale  was  made  apples  to  the  amount  of  $100.00 
had  been  taken  from  this  orchard. 

The  trees  live  longer  here  and  produce  a  better  quality  of  fruit 
than  elsewhere.  The  excellent  quality  of  the  apples  grown  in  this 
county,  as  shown  at  the  "World's  Fair  in  St.  Louis,  proved  to  the 
satisfaction  of  a  great  many  fruit  growers  that  this  is  one  of  the 
best  apple  counties  in  the  State.  Of  the  forty-nine  medals  obtained 
at  this  Fair  by  the  State  of  Virginia,  six  are  accredited  to  Bedford 
County — one  gold,  two  silver  and  three  bronze  medals. 

Apples  through  this  section  are  as  nearly  perfect  as  fruit  can 
grow,  and  the  color  and  flavor  cannot  be  surpassed  by  any  county  or 
State  in  the  Union.  In  orchard  products  of  every  variety,  the  Coun- 
ty of  Bedford  stood  fifth  in  value  as  compared  with  all  of  the  coun- 
ties of  the  State  in  1900,  and  a  competitive  exhibition  by  all  the 
counties  in  the  State  in  1892,  on  all  kinds  of  fruit  raised  in  the 
State,  Bedford  stood  second. 

The  county  inspectors  report  that  the  San  Jose  scale  has  made 
its  appearance  in  many  of  the  orchards  in  this  county,  and  it  is 
apprehended  that  the  injury  will  be  great,  if  not  eradicated  at  an 
early  date.  The  authorized  remedies  for  the  destruction  of  this  dis- 
ease are  being  applied  and  favorable  results  are  reported. 

GRAPES 

All  varieties  of  these  wild  fruits  can  be  found  in  every  section 
of  the  county,  growing  in  the  woods  and  along  the  banks  of  the 
streams,  and  it  is  nothing  uncommon  to  see  large  grape  vines  swing- 
ing from  tree  to  tree,  some  of  them  20  inches  or  more  in  circum- 
ference. To  the  intelligent  observer  this  luxuriant  growth  of  the 
vine  indicates  the  adaptability  of  the  soil  to  the  culture  of  this 
particular  fruit,  and  on  testing  the  wild  grapes  he  is  thoroughly 
convinced  of  what  this  section  could  do  for  them  under  proper 
culture.  The  improved  grapes  have  been  planted  by  many  on  a 
small  scale  and  success  was  beyond  expectations.  At  the  Horticul- 
ture Exhibits  held  at  Bedford  City  for  a  number  of  years  nothing 
surpassed  the  grapes.  So  close  was  the  competition  for  the  prizes 
that  the  judges  had  to  resort  to  the  scale  to  determine  the  first 
from  the  second  and  the  second  from  the  third.  All  of  the  bunches 
weighed  over  17  ounces  apiece,  and  the  prize  winner  was  offered 
25  cents  a  pound  for  his  entire  crop,  which  he  refused. 


76  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


LABOR 

There  has  hitherto  been  an  abundance  of  accessible  labor  at  prices 
varying  according  to  the  character  of  employment,  but  the  unusual 
occurrence  of  having  two  railroads  built  through  the  county  at  the 
same  time  has  made  good,  desirable  labor  scarce  and  high ;  our  hired 
farm  help  is  mainly  of  the  negro  race  and  if  well  managed  is  excel- 
lent, but  requires  firmness  and  watchful  superintendence.  Our 
experience  of  negro  labor  varies  exactly  in  proportion  to  the  skill 
and  good  management  displayed  by  the  employers  themselves. 
The  negro  as  a  land  owner  is  tenacious,  and  seldom  lets  loose; 
there  are  numerous  instances  where  they  have  been  quite  success- 
ful as  farmers  on  a  small  scale,  and  command  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  their  neighbors. 

The  white  laborer  usually  works  independently,  finding  it  either 
m.ore  profitable  or  more  in  agreement  with  a  natural  spirit  of  free- 
dom, where  land  is  so  cheap,  not  to  enter  the  service  of  another ;  in 
such  instances,  however,  when  they  do  depart  from  their  usual  prac- 
tice, the  hired  white  laborers  are  generally  steady  and  reliable. 
Labor-saving  appliances  are  coming  more  generally  into  use  on  the 
farm,  and  under  the  intelligent  supervision  of  the  owners  the  crop 
will  be  largely  increased  and  expense  of  labor  greatly  reduced. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  77 

DOMESTIC  ANIMALS 

CATTLE 

Bedford  County  being  an  elevated  rolling  section  of  Piedmont 
Virginia,  with  an  abundance  of  pure  free-stone  water  at  all  seasons 
of  the  year,  and  a  great  variety  of  appetizing  herbs  and  grasses,  in- 
cluding the  early  bud  of  the  familiar  sassafras  bush,  can  furnish 
very  nutritious  food  for  cattle  and  other  stock.  The  pea-vine  that 
grows  wild  in  the  woods  and  mountains  is  very  fattening  and  much 
sought  after.  With  these  natural  pastures  to  tempt  the  appetite 
it  is  not  strange  that  Bedford  was  fourth  in  rank  in  1900  in  "dairy 
cows  two  years  and  over^'  and  "fifth  in  calves  under  one  year."  It 
is  not  uncommon  for  a  farmer  to  run  stock  cattle  on  these  natural 
pastures  the  entire  season,  and  turn  the  whole  herd  over  to  a  valley 
stock  man  at  the  first  frost,  which  comes  early  in  November,  and 
make  100%  on  the  spring  purchase  of  two-  and  three-year-olds. 
Some  of  our  most  successful  and  prosperous  farmers  confine  their 
stock  operations  to  this  method  exclusively,  and  it  is  seldom  that 
they  hold  a  steer  longer  than  six  or  eight  months.  The  demand 
for  this  grade  of  stock  cattle  is  very  great,  and  no  trouble  is  found 
in  selling  all  that  you  can  graze  on  these  farms  to  buyers,  who 
take  them  off  in  car-load  lots  each  fall.  There  is  no  reason  why 
Bedford  should  not  be  one  of  the  greatest  stock-raising  counties 
in  the  State,  with  all  these  natural  advantages  and  protected  on 
the  entire  western  border  by  mountains  extending  from  James  to 
Staunton  River,  a  distance  of  31  miles. 

SHEEP,  WOOL  AND  LAMBS 

Bedford  County  is  especially  adapted  to  sheep  culture.  Climate, 
native  grasses,  pure  water,  and  hills  all  contribute  to  the  health 
and  rapid  growth  of  as  good  mutton  as  is  found  anywhere.  Our 
lambs  are  from  two  to  four  weeks  earlier  than  those  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  Mountains.  We  are  nearer  markets,  and  we  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  several  competing  lines  of  railroads.  Should  our  supply 
be  greater  than  the  local  demand,  Roanoke  and  Lynchburg  could 
be  reached  by  freight  in  less  than  ninety  minutes.     Richmond, 


78  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Xorfolk,  Washington,  Pliiladelpliia.  Baltimore,  and  Isew  York  are 
all  within  twenty-four  hours  time.  From  the  following  statements 
made  Ijy  a  Bedford  stock  raiser  of  long  experience  you  will  readily 
see  that  there  is  more  profit  in  raising  sheep  than  any  other  stock : 
"My  stock  of  thirty  Shropshire  ewes  have  produced  an  average  of 
$7  per  head  for  the  last  three  years.  I  got  thirty-two  lambs,  which 
I  sold  to  the  butchers  in  Lynchburg  at  5^/^  cts.  per  lb.  These  lambs 
weighed  102  lbs.,  delivered  the  15th  June,  amounting  to  $5.60  per 
head.  The  clip  averaged  6  lbs.  per  old  sheep,  sold  to  the  Woolen 
Mills  at  Bedford  City  for  25  cts.  per  lb.,  amounting  to  $1.50  per 
sheep,  making  an  average  of  $7.47  from  each  ewe.  The  next  year 
I  got  thirty-three  lambs;  sold  at  $5.00  per  lamb,  wool  $1.50,  an  aver- 
age of  $7.00  for  each  ewe.  The  next  year  I  got  thirty-one  lambs ; 
sold  at  $4.50  per  head,  wool  25  cts.  per  lb.,  6  lbs.  per  old  sheep,  an 
average  of  $6.81  for  each  ewe." 

These  prices  were  obtained  on  the  farm  and  from  our  home  buy- 
ers. Stock  men  take  advantage  of  the  fine  grazing  on  the  Apple 
Orchard  during  the  hot  summer  months  and  it  is  astonishing  to  see 
how  rapidly  an  old  sheep  will  recuperate,  and  in  from  six  to  eight 
vreeks  will  be  ready  for  the  butcher. 

HOGS 

With  a  soil  and  climate  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  rye,  cow 
peas,  soy-beans,  artichokes,  fruits,  and  corn,  which  are  all  fine  food 
for  hog-raising,  and  with  such  railroad  facilities  and  local  markets, 
there  is  no  reason  why  Bedford  County  should  not  stand  near  the 
top  as  a  pork  producer.  AVith  proper  care  and  attention,  hogs  are 
the  greatest  "mortgage  lifter"  the  farmer  can  raise,  and  at  the 
same  time  convert  an  old,  poor,  worn-out  field  into  green  pasture  at 
small  cost,  if  any.  All  these  conditions  are  here  and  only  need  to 
be  rightly  handled  to  obtain  proper  results.  Brood  sows  can  be 
wintered  at  a  minimum  cost;  their  litters  come  in  by  the  first  of 
April.  Crimson  clover  will  feed  them  until  the  cow  peas  are  ripe 
enough  to  turn  them  on,  which  can  be  fed  in  succession  until  you  wish 
to  harden  the  flesh  with  soy-beans  and  chestnuts  in  November.  By 
this  time  your  April  pigs  will  be  ready  to  draw  the  scales  at  about 
200  pounds;  no  corn  is  consumed,  and  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  Si/o 
cents  per  pound,  the  summer  and  fall  pigs  can  readily  be  sold  at 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  79 

good  prices,  if  desired.  The  fields  that  have  been  pastured  by  the 
hogs  should  be  seeded  to  grass  or  small  grain  at  the  proper  time. 
Pork  at  this  writing,  April  1st,  1907,  is  worth  $9.00  per  hundred 
pounds.  A^^th  your  capacity  to  handle  stock  of  this-  kind  you  can 
readily  estimate  your  income  from  this  source  on  a  Bedford  farm, 
be  it  rich  or  poor. 

ANGORA  GOATS 

There  is  no  better  location  for  an  Angora  goat  farm  or  ranch 
than  in  Bedford  County.  Thousands  of  acres  of  land  are  covered 
thickly  with  brush  of  every  variety,  briers  and  weeds,  and  all  well 
watered  by  never-failing  springs,  branches,  and  creeks. 

Angora  goats  are  not  only  the  cheapest  and  best  weed  and  brush 
cleaners  but  the  most  profitable  stock  on  the  farms  and  ranches, 
as  they  only  need  salting  and  rain-proof  sheds  and  average  care  to 
turn  their  silvery  fleeces  and  brush-fat  carcasses  into  Uncle  Sam's 
golden  eagles.  They  have  the  greatest  and  grandest  jjossibility  in 
this  section  of  any  live  stock  on  record.  Let  any  thorough-going 
business  farmer  try  100  Angora  goats  on  one  of  these  grown-up 
farms  in  this  county  and  see  if  he  cannot  double  his  money  each 
year,  while  he  is  getting  the  farm  in  grand  condition  for  the  plough, 
and  at  the  same  time  spreading  a  coat  of  rich  good  manure  uni- 
formly over  the  lands  pastured.  They  will  eat  cedar,  pines,  spruces^ 
oak,  black-berries,  sassafras,  hickory,  dogwood,  ash,  poplar,  poison 
oak,  briers,  and  weeds  of  all  kinds.  Ten  Angora  goats  to  an  acre 
will  clean  up  the  densest  thickets  of  brush  and  briers,  pick  the  leaves 
and  twigs  otf ,  and  turn  them  into  money  for  their  owners.  No  land 
in  the  world  is  better  adapted  to  the  raising  of  the  "Angora  Goat" 
than  our  old  grown-up  plantations  in  Bedford  County,  Va.  The 
fleece  from  a  fine  Angora  goat  will  readily  sell  for  from  $8  to  812, 
according  to  the  length  and  firmness  of  the  fiber.  The  fleece  from 
the  doe  usually  sells  for  from  30  to  40  cents  per  pound. 

POULTRY 

This  word  is  a  comprehensive  term,  meaning  domestic  birds  or 
barnyard  fowls,  which  includes  chickens,  turkeys,  ducks,  and  geese, 
taken  singly  or  collectively :  this  industry  has  a  fine  opportunity  to 
be  successfully  conducted  in  this  section  of  Virginia.     The  local 


80  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

buyer  is  at  your  door  paying  city  prices,  or  you  can  ship  to  far-oif 
markets  in  twenty-four  hours  after  leaving  your  home  station. 
This  industry  is  in  its  infancy  in  Bedford  County,  though  many 
people  are  devoting  much  time  and  attention  to  the  furtherance  of 
this  most  profitable  business;  and  nearly  all  the  breeds  known  to 
the  fancier  can  be  found  here.  A  few  years  ago,  to  say  that  you 
paid  $5.00  for  male  birds  would  have  made  some  of  the  natives 
pronounce  the  buyer  a  lunatic;  now  they  will  admire  a  $25.00 
'Tjird"  and  intelligently  discuss  his  "fine  points"  and  "praise  the 
bridge  that  carries  them  over,"  for  without  the  "hen"  what  would 
our  currency  have  been  when  times  were  harder  than  they  are  now  ? 
One  dollar  for  a  pair  of  geese  was  common,  A  gosling  last  fall  that 
weighed  17  pounds  sold  for  $3.40.  Formerly,  $1.00  for  turkey  hens 
and  $1.50  for  gobblers;  from  15  to  20  cents  per  pound  gross  is  now 
standard  price.  An  old  "dungle"  hen  did  not  dare  put  a  higher 
price  on  her  head  than  25  cents,  but  now  when  dressed  she  would 
call  for  80  cents  to  $1.50,  just  according  to  the  amount  of  flesh 
she  had  taken  on. 

The  poultry  product  of  this  county  is  no  smaller  factor  when 
you  compute  the  annual  income  from  this  source.  Of  the  one 
hundred  counties  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  Bedford  took  the  sixth 
stand  in  the  production  of  eggs  in  1900.  Starting  on  a  small  scale, 
c.  profitable  industry  could  be  established  in  a  few  seasons,  which 
could  be  carried  to  big  proportion  in  coming  years. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  81 


GAME 


The  mountain  streams  of  Bedford  County  are  well  supplied  with 
heautiful  spotted  trout.  The  water  being  clear  and  in  many  places 
quite  rapid  in  its  descent,  it  is  most  difficult  for  an  expert  angler  to 
land  any  number  of  these  toothsome  mountain  fish.  James  River 
on  the  north,  Staunton  Eiver  on  the  south.  Big  Otter  and  Little 
Otter  Elvers  and  Goose  Creek  running  diagonally  across  the  county, 
all  these  large  streams  and  their  numerous  tributaries  combined, 
furnish  every  section  of  the  county  with  ample  facilities  for  an- 
gling at  the  proper  seasons  of  the  year  for  suckers,  white,  silver  and 
sun  perch,  carp,  pike,  horned  and  southern  chub,  mullet,  eel,  black 
bass,  cat-fish  and  many  other  varieties. 

The  configuration  of  the  surface  and  the  abundance  of  the  free- 
stone springs  and  branches  make  it  quite  a  simple  matter  for  farmers 
to  have  their  own  ponds  stocked  with  fish  from  the  government 
hatcheries,  which  are  located  only  a  short  distance  west  of  the  county 
on  the  main  line  of  the  Norfolk  &  Western  Railroad.  Many  farm- 
ers have  availed  themselves  of  the  privilege,  and  own  ponds 
stocked  with  fine  fish. 

Of  wild  animals,  there  are  found  in  the  county,  rarely,  bear  and 
deer;  frequently  lynx,  mink,  weasel,  beaver,  muskrat  and  others; 
in  great  abundance  the  fox,  red,  and  grey  squirrel,  raccoon,  opos- 
sum, and  hare.  The  last  named  is  a  conspicuous  and  abundant  arti- 
cle of  local  commerce  in  winter  and  furnishes  a  large  portion  of  the 
negroes'  meat  diet.  Rabbits  found  ready  sale  last  season  at  fifteen 
cents  each,  and  large  shipments  were  made  to  the  western  coal  fields 
in  Virginia  and  West  Virginia.  The  wild  fowls  consist,  in  their 
seasons,  of  wild  geese  and  ducks  along  the  numerous  water  courses 
in  the  county,  and  cranes  near  the  branches  and  low 
wet  places;  snipe  and  woodcock  in  almost  every  section  of  the 
county,  and  wild  turkeys,  which  are  sometimes  seen  in  large  flock? 
in  the  early  fall.  It  takes  an  expert  hunter  to  bag  a  wild  turkey 
after  he  is  in  his  second  year,  though  some  men  have  the  art  of 
imitating  so  perfectly  these  most  watchful  of  wild  fowls  that  they 
can  "scatter"  the  whole  flock  for  miles  apart,  and  then  "call"  each 
one  up  singly  to  his  hastily  constructed  "blind"  and  often  bag  eight 


82  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

or  ten  at  a  "setting."  The  ''blind"  must  always  be  promptly  con- 
structed right  on,  or  very  near,  the  spot  where  the  turkeys  were 
^•'flushed"  or  "scattered,"  which  is  usually  made  of  pine  brush  and 
leaves.  The  pheasant  is  found  in  the  mountains  or  dead-wooded 
hollows  and  is  difficult  to  shoot.  Throughout  the  entire  county 
that  most  beautiful  and  appetizing  of  all  game  birds,  the  partridge, 
is  found.  The  law  protecting  the  quail  is  quite  rigid  and  is  en- 
forced by  the  "game  warden''  in  each  county;  no  trapping  is 
allowed  and  no  birds  can  be  shot  until  after  November  in  each 
year,  and  then  only  for  a  short  period.  The  individual  farmer 
can  "post"  his  land,  and  keep  off  all  hunters,  trappers  and  fishers, 
if  he  so  desires. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  83 


BEDFORD  CITY 


This  town  lies  in  Bedford  County,  Virginia,  of  which  it  is  the 
seat  of  justice.  It  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  main  line  of  the 
Norfolk  &  Western  Eailway,  nearly  midway  between  the  cities  of 
Lynchburg  and  Eoanoke,  being  twenty-five  miles  from  the  former 
and  twenty-eight  miles  from  the  latter.  Viewed  from  any  of  the 
eminences  by  which  it  is  surrounded,  the  town  appears  to  nestle 
peacefully  among  the  richly  wooded  hills  and  fruitful  valleys  which 
characterize  this  lovely  region  and  render  it  almost  unique  in  its 
picturesque  beauty.  So  dense  is  the  foliage,  by  which  the  streets 
and  houses  are  sheltered  from  the  ardent  rays  of  the  summer  sun, 
that  it  is  difficult  to  find  a  spot  from  which  a  fair  view  of  the  town 
can  be  obtained,  or  to  realize  that  beneath  the  grateful  shade  thou- 
sands of  busy  lives  are  daily  running  their  appointed  course  of  toil 
and  love  and  duty.  The  area  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
town  is  about  six  hundred  acres,  and  its  population  is  estimated  at 
3,500. 

Bedford  City  is  the  seat  of  important  industrial  and  commercial 
interests;  in  the  manufacture  of  tobacco  it  holds  a  high  rank  among 
the  towns  and  cities  of  Virginia;  it  possesses  a  large  woolen  mill, 
whose  perfect  equipment  and  large  capacity  are  hardly  equal  to  the 
demand  for  its  excellent  products ;  two  secure  and  prosperous  bank- 
ing institutions,  with  ample  resources  for  all  possible  requirements 
of  the  local  trade;  two  flour  and  grist  mills;  numerous  mercantile 
houses  representing  all  branches  of  business;  two  weekly  news- 
papers, each  having  a  large  and  wide  circulation;  "the  American 
Asbestos"  factory  with  its  powerful  machinery  and  capacity  for 
30  tons  of  the  common  and  15  tons  of  the  finer  fiber  daily;  three 
large  wood  yards ;  two  coal  yards ;  two  ice  plants ;  one  Baptist,  one 
Presbyterian,  one  Episcopal,  one  Methodist,  and  one  Eoman  Cath- 
olic Church.  A  large  brick  court-house  was  built  in  1834;  the 
heavy  iron  railing  and  the  porch  and  steps  and  the  massive  hinges 
to  the  large  window  blinds  were  forged  by  hand  by  the  noted  smith 
of  the  day,  Solomon  Lindsay.  Some  of  his  relations  now  living 
in  this  county  still  adhere  to  his  early  teachings  and  their  hand- 
made wagons  have  such  a  reputation  for  durability  that  orders  have 
CA  en  been  received  from  Australia.     This  neat  and  flourishing  town 


84 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


^  a 

2   « 

5   ^ 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  85 

is  the  admiration  of  travelers,  being  surrounded  by  a  beautiful  roll- 
ing, fertile  country,  bounded  by  a  background  of  great  sublimity. 
The  Blue  Eidge  Mountains  running  to  the  right  and  left  across  the 
horizon  for  many  miles,  here  tower  to  the  height  of  3,875  feet.  The 
Peaks  of  Otter,  which  although  ten  miles  distant,  appear  in  the 
immediate  vicinity.     These  peaks,  knobs,  and     mountain     ranges 
which  form  the  western  lioundary  line  of  Bedford  County  are,  with 
a  few  exceptions,  the  loftiest  mountains  in  the  Southern  States. 
Bedford  City  is  fair  to  look  upon,  presenting  an  air  of  health,  com- 
fort, and  cleanliness,  which  is  well  sustained  by  statistical  facts. 
Two  hotels  and  more  than  a  dozen  private  boarding  houses  and  res- 
taurants are  taxed  to  their  utmost  capacity  to  accommodate  the  trav- 
eling public   and  railroad  employees.     Merchants   have   been   un- 
usually successful ;  not  a  failure  has  occurred  for  a  number  of  years. 
Handsome   brick   and    frame    residences,   models   of   architectural 
beauty,  are  numerous,  while  others  of  an  earlier  date  are  suggestive 
of  that  perfect,  though  secluded,  comfort  which  proclaim  the  happy 
home.     The  large  and  conveniently  arranged  new  brick  opera  house 
is  the  pride  of  its  owners;  the  dense  shade  and  expensive  grounds 
make   it   an   attractive   location.     The   four   large,   well    equipped 
hvery  stables  are  rarely  able  to  accommodate  the  demands  made 
upon  them    by  the  traveling  public  and  pleasure  seekers.     Our 
large  eight-room  graded   school  and   the   two   flourishing   private 
schools    will  be  treated  under  separate  heads.     The  two  large  to- 
bacco vi'arehouses  have  done  a  flourishing  business  this  season,  some 
high  prices  for  the  "weed"  having  been  obtained.     The  numerous 
leaf  and  plug  dealers  employ  a  number  of  hands,  and  have  facili- 
ties for  handling  millions  of  pounds  more  than  the  Bedford  farmers 
are  now  raising.     The  cigar  interests  are  well  represented  by  local 
factories,  and  Bedford's  fine  plug  and  fragrant  cigars  are  being 
offered  to  the  markets  in  most  of  the  states  of  the  Union.     The 
Bedford  Mill  Company  when  in  full  operation  employs  about  seventy- 
five  operatives.     They  manufacture  a  variety  of  cloths,  principally 
indigo  blue,  cadet  greys,  and  prison  goods;  they  also  manufacture 
blankets,  skirts,  and  knitting  yarns.     Our  natural  advantages  sur- 
pass those  of  many  other  milling  districts,  for  the  water  is  quite  soft 
and    comparatively    free    from    chemicals.     The    present    superin- 
tendent says :  "Having  travelled  Illinois  in  the  capacity  of  Govern- 
ment Textile  Inspector,  I  am  convinced  that  we  have  the  finest 
water  for  dyeing,  scouring,  and  fulling  purposes  that  can  be  had." 


86  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

SCENERY 

A  place  of  much  resort,  one-half  mile  south  of  Bedford  City,  is 
Wingfield's  Mountain,  altitude  1,299  feet  above  the  sea  level. 
Beservoir  Hill,  a  lower  knob  of  Wingfield's  Mountain,  commands  a 
fine  view  of  three-fourths  of  the  county.  The  surrounding  country 
presents  every  form  of  romantic  and  picturesque  scenery.  The 
view  of  the  far-distant  southeast,  where  Staunton  Eiver  abruptly 
breaks  through  Smith's  Mountain,  2,043  feet  high,  running  north 
and  south,  and  the  almost  perpendicular  break,  where  the  water 
rushes  through,  presents  a  scene  of  remarkable  grandeur.  To  the 
north  and  west  the  view  is  bounded  by  the  crest,  saddles  and  knobs 
of  the  Blue  Eidge  Mountains,  which  appear  to  terminate  within 
six  miles  of  the  town  in  the  lofty  and  majestic  Peaks  of  Otter.  The 
v/estern  horizon  is  closed  in  by  the  bold  spurs  and  broad  valleys 
of  the  Blue  Eidge  and  Alleghany  Mountains,  while  to  the  south 
and  east  an  undulating  sweep  of  hill  and  dale  seems  to  lose  itself 
in  the  purple  distance  where  it  blends  with  the  sky.  As  the  eye 
v/anders  beyond  the  immediate  surroundings,  and  rests  upon  a 
sketch  of  cultivated  plantations,  or  rich  meadow,  or  upon  a  rem- 
nant of  primeval  forest,  or  travelling  upward  lights  upon  the  soft 
blue  summits  of  the  everlasting  hills,  which  like  stepping  stones 
lead  into  the  mysteries  of  space,  there  is  nothing  left  for  the  poet 
painter's  loftiest  aspirations. 

The  roads  radiating  from  Bedford  City  are  intersected  by  cross 
roads  in  such  a  manner  as  to  enable  the  pleasure  seeker  to  take  eight 
0]  ten  different  drives  from  ten  to  twenty  miles  in  length,  each 
one  varying  in  scenery  until  the  circle  is  complete  by  returning  to 
the  starting  point.  During  these  numerous  drives  over  the  improved 
thoroughfares  that  are  being  constantly  worked  by  the  convicts 
one  can  get  fruit  in  season  growing  wild  along  the  roadside  in  the 
fence  corners  and  in  shady  spots,  such  as  cherries,  strawberries, 
raspberries,  dewberries,  blackberries,  peaches,  and  apples. 

There  are  several  large  streams  and  many  small  ones  near  enough 
to  Bedford  City  to  enable  a  whole  family  to  spend  the  day  fishing 
or  seining,  and  return  to  the  city  before  night,  a  little  tired  out, 
but  much  improved  in  health,  strength  and  vigor.  After  you  have 
once  tried  this  altitude  you  long  to  come  back  again,  and  again, 
until  finally  you  become  one  of  us.  for  with  continued  health  there 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  87 

is  contentment,  which  begets  love  and  happiness  under  your  own 
vine  and  fig  tree.  The  scenery  attracts  the  eye,  the  water  and 
atmosphere  invigorate  the  body  and  gives  an  appetite ;  food  assimi- 
lated gives  strength,  and  fresh,  rosy  cheeks  bespeak  health;  a  drive 
0.'  walk  develops  and  hardens  the  muscles.  Such  a  combination 
means  prolonged  life. 

HYGIENE 

All  of  Piedmont  Virginia  (except  in  limited  localities  in  and 
near  certain  water  courses,  where  malarial  diseases  prevail  to  some 
extent)  is  an  especially  healthful  region,  perhaps  as  favorable  to 
longevity  as  any  part  of  America.  To  this  statement  may  be  added 
the  singular  and  important  fact  that  on  no  occasion  have  infectious 
or  contagious  diseases  of  any  kind  gained  a  foothold  or  assumed  an 
epidemic  form  in  Bedford  City  or  its  vicinity;  sporadic  cases  have, 
of  course,  appeared  from  time  to  time,  but  they  have  never  been 
known  to  spread;  indeed  it  would  seem  that  the  climate  of  this 
favored  region  is  fatal  to  nothing  save  only  disease  and  pestilence, 
while  to  all  else  its  effects  are  eminently  stimulating  and  wholesome. 

A  lady  from  Illinois  with  her  satchel  full  of  medicine  and  ex- 
plicit directions  from  her  doctor  how  and  when  to  take  these  drugs 
came  to  visit  her  daughter  who  had  only  been  here  for  a  year  or 
more,  and  had  reported  to  her  home  people  the  improved  condition 
of  her  general  health.  The  mother  after  a  while  bought  property 
in  town,  though  unable  to  walk  as  much  as  two  squares  at  a  time; 
in  less  than  twelve  months  time  she  had  ceased  to  use  drugs  of  any 
kind,  can  now  walk  anywhere  without  fatigue,  and  says  she  hasn't 
a  pain  or  an  ache. 

ELKS'  NATIONAL  HOME 

The  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  was  first  organized 
in  the  City  of  ISTew  York  in  the  winter,  1867,  with  a  membership- 
of  thirteen  names.  It  now  has  about  one  thousand  lodges  and  over 
two  hundred  thousand  members.  The  principles  of  "charity,  jus- 
tice, brotherly  love,  and  fidelity,"  upon  which  it  was  based,  have  been 
firm  foundation  for  a  magnificent  structure.  The  order  is  purely 
American;  every  Elk  must  believe  in  God,  and  be  an  American 
citizen;  there  is  no  preference  of  wealth,  rank  or  distinction.     The 


88  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

primary  object  of  the  order  is  to  succor  those  in  distress  and  to 
help  the  weak  and  unfortunate.  Eesolutions  were  adopted  setting 
forth  the  desirability  of  establishing  a  National  Home  for  the  aged 
and  moneyless  members  of  the  order  at  a  meeting  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  in  New  Orleans,  in  1898,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  con- 
sider its  feasibility.  At  the  annual  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
held  at  St.  Louis,  in  1899,- the  committee  was  reappointed,  being 
authorized  to  work  in  conjunction  with  other  prominent  members 
of  the  order  and  to  negotiate  for  and  secure  a  site  suitable  for  a 
National  Home.  At  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.,  in  1900,  they  reported 
that  they  found  it  impossible  in  the  short  time  to  personally  visit 
all  of  the  numerous  sites  offered.  A  new  special  committee  with 
Past  Grand  Exalted  Euler,  Meade  D.  Detwiler,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
chairman,  was  appointed.  His  activity  was  marvelous,  and  it  is  to 
his  indomitable  perseverance  and  energy  that  the  National  Home 
owes  its  existence;  numerous  sites  located  at  the  most  noted  health 
resorts  in  different  sections  of  the  United  States  were  visited  and 
considered,  but  no  selection  was  made  at  the  Grand  Lodge  held  at 
Milwaukee,  in  1901.  The  committee  with  addition  was  continued. 
Shortly  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Grand  Lodge  the  attention 
of  the  committee  was  called  to  the  Hotel  Bedford  property  in  the 
town  of  Bedford  City,  Va.  This  offer  was  investigated,  and  appear- 
ing to  possess  all  of  the  requirements,  was  finally  purchased  at  a 
public  sale  June  16,  1902,  which  was  reported  to  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Salt  Lake  City,  in  August  of  that  year.  This  property  was 
originally  built  at  a  cost  of  about  $120,000,  which  included  the  fur 
niture  and  carpeting,  but  was  bought  by  the  committee  at  a  ridi- 
culously low  figure,  $12,500.  with  all  improvements,  additions  and 
refitting,  which  were  made  immediately  after  the  purchase.  The 
total  cost  to  the  order  was  less  than  $50,000,  giving  a  commodious 
home  of  ample  size,  elegantly  equipped  throughout,  which  could  not 
he  duplicated  for  three  times  the  amount  expended.  The  Elks  Na- 
tional Home  was  dedicated  May  21st,  1903.  Elks  from  all  parts  of 
the  nation  and  their  friends  attended  and  over  five  thousand  people 
were  given  a  free  dinner  after  the  exercises  were  brought  to  a  close. 
The  home  is  situated  in  the  western  suburbs  of  the  town  of  Bedford 
€ity,  Va.,  in  the  center  of  a  plat  of  eight  acres  with  a  wide  sloping 
lawn  in  front,  which  extends  to  the  N.  &  W.  E.  E.,  and  a  beautiful 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  89 

grove  as  an  immediate  background.  The  building  itself  is  of  cres- 
cent shape,  graceful  and  massive,  of  special  school  of  architecture. 
It  is  two  hundred  feet  long  and  three  stories  high.  From  the  ob- 
servatory a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country  can  be  obtained. 
There  are  three  wings,  the  rooms  on  each  floor  opening  on  wide  halls, 
being  large  and  airy,  capable  of  accomodating  easily  two  hundred 
people.  The  offices  and  lobbies  have  tile  floors,  and  open  upon  a 
wide  corridor  extending  over  nearly  the  entire  front.  The  whole 
building  is  wired  for  electric  lighting,  and  water  is  furnished  from 
the  town  system,  fresh  from  springs  in  the  mountains.  There  are 
bath  rooms  on  every  floor,  and  two  hydrants  for  hose  connection 
in  case  of  fire.  The  furnishing  of  the  home  originally  cost  nearly 
$30,000.  It  is  carpeted  throughout  and  all  the  rooms  are  hand- 
somely furnished. 

The  management  of  the  home  is  in  the  hands  of  a  board  of  three 
governors  appointed  by  the  Grand  Exalted  Euler,  who  has  complete 
power  and  supervision  over  the  property,  appoints  the  resident  su- 
perintendents and  all  other  officials  and  fixes  their  salaries.  The  in- 
mates of  the  magnificent  institution  have  every  care  and  attention 
that  an  honored  guest  could  have  in  one  of  the  best  equipped  private 
houses.  Each  one  has  his  own  private  sleeping  room  and  can  enjoy 
the  luxury  of  a  palace  costing  thousands  of  dollars,  with  the  same 
freedom  as  if  he  were  the  sole  owner.  The  table  is  furnished  with  the 
best  that  the  market  can  afford,  and  the  inmates  are  fed,  clothed, 
and  treated  like  gentlemen,  and  the  only  rule  of  their  governance 
is  that  they  shall  conduct  themselves  as  such.  Whan  the  weather  is 
not  suitable  for  a  walk  over  town  or  out  in  the  country  one  can  find 
exercise  at  the  billiard  tables,  or  amusements  in  other  forms.  The 
library  is  supplied  with  two  thousand  volumes ;  daily  papers,  periodi- 
cals, and  all  current  literature  are  regularly  received.  The  many 
instruments  donated  are  a  source  of  great  pleasure.  JSTothing  is 
lacking  which  could  contribute  to  the  comfort,  pleasure,  and 
welfare  of  the  residents.  In  health  they  live  as  in  the  comfort  of 
a  private  home.  In  sickness,  they  are  cared  for  as  if  surrounded  by 
friends  and  family.  The  resident  physician  makes  daily  visits,  and 
•ofteher  if  necessary.  Man  in  his  palmiest  days  could  hardly  wish  to 
pass  his  declining  years  in  more  ease  and  comfort  than  is  offered 
the  Brother  Elk  at  the  haven  of  rest  beneath  the  shady  Peaks  of 
Otter. 


!t<)  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

POST  OFFICE 

It  is  gratifying  to  note  the  great  progress  made  in  the  Bedford 
Cit}'  post  office  in  the  last  few  j'ears.  Six  years  ago 
the  postmaster,  one  man,  and  a  boy,  did  all  of  the  work 
and  only  got  $20.80 ;  now  the  office  employs  fourteen  men  and  a  boy, 
who  receive  salaries  amounting  to  $13,555.  Through  the  untiring 
efforts  of  the  present  postmaster,  Bedford  City  is  far  ahead  of  other 
towns  of  the  same  size  in  Virginia,  in  small  facilities.  The  post- 
master is  now  at  work  for  a  public  building  at  Bedford  City  and  has 
every  prospect  of  procuring  a  $50,000.00  building.  The  growth  of 
the  office  in  this  short  time  is  phenonenal,  and  has  passed  to  a  second 
class  office.  There  are  three  city  carriers,  who  deliver  the  mail 
twice  a  day  and  gather  it  the  same  number  of  times ;  each  one  goes 
over  his  entire  route  twice  a  day,  traveling  every  day  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  miles.  The  two  trains  that  pass  the  town  at  8  a.  m.  bring 
mail,  which  is  delivered  by  a  carrier  while  the  mail  is  being  collect- 
ed, thus  making  the  third  daily  delivery  of  mail ;  this  is  purely  an 
accommodation  by  the  polite  and  courteous  carriers,  and  serves  to 
lighten  the  evening's  delivery.  Six  rural  free  delivery  routes  ra- 
diate in  every  direction.  The  carriers  leave  the  office  about  6  :30 
a.  m.,  travel  about  23  miles  each,  and  get  back  in  time  for  the  2  :25 
p.  m.  train;  these  carriers  serve  697  families  and  will  soon  receive 
$5,400,  or  $900.00  a  year  each.  In  addition  there  are  thirty-five 
rural  free  delivery  routes  in  this  county,  which  radiate  from  dif- 
ferent points,  and  one-half  of  the  mail  for  this  county  passes 
through  the  Bedford  City  office;  it  has  only  been  three  years  since 
free  delivery  was  started  in  this  county.  There  is  one  star  rout-j 
man,  who  travels  twenty  odd  miles  daily. 

A  casual  glance  at  the  following  figures  will  give  some  idea  of  the 
enormous  amount  of  business  that  is  transacted  at  the  Bedford  City 
post  office.  The  actual  figures  taken  from  the  record  show  that 
over  $13,000  worth  of  stamps  were  sold  in  twelve  months.  In  six 
months  money  orders  to  the  amount  of  $55,122  were  issued,  or  $110- 
244  for  one  year  :  and  1,060  registered  letters  in  six  months.  Most  of 
tliese  were  large  amounts,  but  for  the  sake  of  an  annual  estimate 
place  them  at  $25  each,  and  we  have  an  annual  business  of  about 
$176,244.  Can  any  city  in  the  United  States  of  like  population 
make  a  similar  showing?  Three  thousand  five  hundred  people  live 
in  the  town,  and  30,000  in  the  county,  which  embraces  the  town. 
Kio-ht  passenger  trains  pass  Bedford  City  in  twenty-four  hours, 
iVi'r  e:ist  .md  four  west,  and  each  one  carries  mail. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  91 

BANKING 

In  no  city  in  this  State  can  be  found  a  better  banking  system  than 
that  of  Bedford  City.  The  bank  officers  are  some  of  the  keenest 
business  men  and  ablest  financiers  of  the  State,  while  the  directors 
are  men,  who  have  made  a  success  financially,  in  whatever  busi- 
ness or  profession  they  may  be  engaged.  Bedford  City  has  two 
banking  institutions,  the  Bedford  City  branch  of  the  Lynchburg 
Trust  and  Savings  Bank,  and  the  Peoples  Bank  of  Bedford  City. 

Statements 

A  condensed  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  Bedford  City 
branch  of  the  Lynchburg  Trust  &  Savings  Bank  at  the  close  of  busi- 
ness December  31st,  1906 : 

Resources 

Loans    and    discounts .?324.804.50 

Bank  building,   etc 14,939.19 

Cash    in   vault 18,690.62 

Due   from   banks 88,336.38 

$446,770.69 
Liahilities. 

Surplus    fund .$  40,000.00 

Undivided    profits 6,347.97 

Due    to    other    banks 324.28 

Deposits     400,098.44 

$446,770.69 

The  Lynchburg  Trust  and  Savings  Bank  of  Lynchburg,  Va. : 

Capital   $150,000.00 

Surplus    fund 150,000.00 

Undivided    profits 15,000.00 

Total   deposits  Dec.   31.    1906 $1,239,861.64 

A  condensed  statement  of  The  Peoples  Bank  of  Bedford  City, 
Virginia,  January  26th,  1907 : 

Resources 

Loans    and   discounts $180,871.05 

Over  drafts 182.19 

Furniture    and    fixtures 946.04 

Cash    10,493.60 

Due   from   banks 86.891.65 


$279,384.53 


92  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Liabilities. 

Capital   stock $  20,000.00 

Surplus   and   undivided   prolits 19,810.55 

Deposits   236,886.81 

Reserve  to  pay  interest  on  certificates...        2,687.17 


$279,384.53 


Practically  all  of  the  stock  of  this  hank  is  owned  hv  the  citizens 
of  the  town  and  county  of  Bedford. 

VINTON  AND  ROANOKE  WATER  COMPANY 

Pure   Freestone   Water  for  Roanoke  City,  Va. 

Enterprising  citizens  of  Eoanoke  City,  recognizing  the  fact  that 
pure  freestone  water  is  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  that  a  town 
or  city  can  possess,  came  into  Bedford  County  and  bought  84714 
acres  of  land  on  the  head  waters  of  Falling  Creek,  constructed  a 
very  high  dam,  which  holds  the  waters  from  many  bold  springs 
and  forms  a  reservoir  covering  some  15  acres  and  holding 
90,000,000  gallons,  or  more.  It  is  valued  at  $28,792,321,  and 
is  a  source  of  revenue  to  Bedford  County,  from  taxation.  This 
water,  like  the  Bedford  City  water  comes  to  the  town  by  gravity, 
and  is  a  great  luxury.  This  dam  is  located  some  22  miles  from 
Bedford  City,  and  about  7I/2  miles  from  Eoanoke  City,  and  o 
miles  from  Vinton.  Eoanoke  has  a  very  fine  supply  of  limestone 
water  from  a  very  large  and  bold  spring  just  across  the  Eoanoke 
Eiver,  btit  the  freestone  water  is  preferred  for  cooking,  washing, 
and  for  use  in  the  numerous  boilers  which  are  used  in  the  many 
shops  that  are  located  at  Eoanoke.  The  Bedford  waters  are  much 
used  by  the  Norfolk  &  Western  Eailway  in  the  hundreds  of  loco- 
motive engines,  which  go  over  the  main  line  every  day  in  the 
year,  Sundays  partially  excluded. 

Parties,  who  have  travelled  all  over  the  United  States  and  in 
the  old  country,  say  they  rarely  find  such  pure  and  harmless  water 
anywhere  as  they  get  in  Bedford;  one  can  drink  just  as  much 
of  these  pure  spring  waters  as  he  can  swallow,  and  no  bad  effects 
follow.  The  best  drink  in  the  world  is  pure  freestone  water, 
taken  from  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  Eidge  Mountains  in  Bedford 
<'ouuty.  Virginia. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  93 

DOUBLE  WATER  SUPPLY 
Bedford  Gity  OM^ns  her  own  water  M'orks,  which  were  constructed 
in  1885  at  a  cost  of  $100,000.  The  water  is  drawn  from  a  spring 
in  the  mountains  some  ten  miles  away,  on  the  side  of  the  Southern 
Peak.  At  an  elevation  of  310  feet  above  the  highest  point  in  the 
town,  a  dam  is  thrown  across  the  ravine  down  which  the  cool,  clear 
water  of  the  Big  Spring  and  other  natural  fountains  pursue  their 
noisy  way  to  the  valley  below.  In  1898  another  dam  was  built 
across  Stony  Creek,  which  drains  the  Big  Survey,  near  the  Apple 
Orchard.  The  two  pipes  from  these  dams  unite  near  Kelso  Mill, 
and  furnish  the  town  with  a  constant  and  never-failing  supply 
of  good  water.  The  danger  from  fire  is  reduced  to  the  minimum, 
as  the  pressure  stands  at  80  pounds  to  the  square  inch,  and  a  stream 
of  water  can  be  readily  thrown  over  a  four  story  building  at  the 
most  elevated  part  of  the  town.  So  abundant  is  the  supply  of 
M-ater  that  the  town  furnishes  water  power  for  various 
industrial  enterprises,  which  greatly  lessens  the  cost  of  their 
operating  expenses.  The  water  works  are  self-sustaining,  and 
each  quarterly  statement  shows  an  increased  rental.  A  large 
storage  reservoir  was  constructed  on  Wingfield  Mountain,  just 
south  of  the  town,  which  furnishes  water  for  the  town,  should 
there  be  a  break  in  the  line  of  supply.  A  gravity  system  of  watej- 
supply  once  well  installed,  can  be  perpetuated  at  a  minimum  cost. 
The  present  rental  value  of  water  supplied  to  consumers  is  about 
$6,500.00  annually. 


94 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


^   5 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  95 


VIRGINIA  SANATORIUM 

The  Virginia  Sanatorium  for  Consumptives  is  located  at  Iron- 
ville,  Bedford  County,  Virginia,  on  the  main  line  of  the  Norfolk 
&  Western  Eailway,  twelve  miles  east  of  Eoanoke.  It  has  an 
elevation  of  one  thousand,  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  is  well 
protected  by  mountains  on  all  sides,  and  receives  an  abundance 
<jf  sunlight  throughout  the  day.  It  embraces  well-tested  climatic 
advantages,  and  all  essentials  for  effective  treatment  of  tuberculosis. 
This  institution  was  granted  an  eleemosynarv  charter  by  the 
State  Corporation  Commission  in  April,  1905.  for  the  following 
purposes : 

1.  The  treatment  of  incipient  consumptives  in  sanatoria. 

2.  The  treatment  of  ambulant  tubercular  cases  in  dispensary. 

3.  Procurement    of  suitable    employment    for  patients    after 

treatment. 

4.  The  distribution  of  preventive  and  educational  niformation. 

5.  The  inducement  of  preventive  legislation. 

Inasmuch  as  it  is  the  aim  of  the  organization  to  do  the  greatest 
amount  of  good  to  the  largest  number  its  means  will  permit,  it 
perforce  must  confine  itself  to  the  admission  of  early  cases  only. 
Accommodation  for  about  thirty-five  patients  can  be  furnished. 
After  careful  investigation  this  has  been  selected  as  the  most 
health-giving  section  of  the  State. 


96  HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


A  HEALTH  RESORT 

Taking  the  elevation  above  the  sea  level  along  the  line  of  the 
Norfolk  &  Western  Railway  through  Bedford  County,  beginning 
at  Forest  Depot  near  the  Campbell  County  line  on  the  east,  and 
adopting  the  new  grade  figures,  we  have  at  Forest  Depot  851  feet 
elevation,  at  Bellevue  809  feet,  at  Goode  784  feet,  at  Dowry  767 
feet,  at  Bedford  City  931  feet,  at  Elk  915  feet,  at  Thaxton  948 
feet,  at  Irving  968  feet,  at  Montvale  996  feet,  at  the  Summit  east 
of  the  Blue  Eidge  Station  1,281  feet.  At  and  near  all  of  these 
stations,  persons  who  will  can  have  all  their  spare  room  filled 
with  summer  boarders  for  the  entire  season,  at  remunerative  prices. 
These,  who  have  prepared  themselves  for  this  business,  are 
generally  overrun  and  have  to  turn  down  applications  each  season. 
Many  city  people  have  bought  farms  contiguous  to  the  railroad, 
and  spend  the  summers  with  their  families  in  the  country.  The 
man  of  business  returns  to  the  city  in  the  morning  and  back  to 
the  farm  in  the  evening.  A  constant  cool  breeze  from  over  the 
western  mountains  generally  requires  a  double  blanket  at  night. 
Pure  freestone  water  from  the  springs,  ripe  juicy  fruits,  fresh 
vegetables,  home  comforts  in  country  dress,  with  relaxation  of 
all  restraints,  generally  carry  the  mother  and  children  back  to  the 
city  in  renewed  health,  strength  and  vigor.  Camping  parties  have 
become  quite  fashionable  in  recent  years,  and  it  is  nothing  un- 
common to  see  forty  persons,  men,  women,  and  children,  in  one 
camp,  on  a  grassy  plat  near  a  bold,  cool  spring,  right  at  the  top 
of  the  celebrated  Apple  Orchard  Mountains,  some  eighteen  miles 
distant  from  Bedford  City.  The  scenery  is  grand  and  inspiring. 
The  sportsman  can  find  employment  if  he  will  seek  it  in  the  recesses 
of  the  rugged  mountains  beyond  the  ridges,  where  bears,  wild- 
cats, and  wild  turkeys  can  be  found.  The  numerous  cataracts 
and  falls  down  "Sugar  Land  Hollow"  are  often  visited  by  the 
younger  members  of  the  party,  after  they  have  seasoned  their 
muscles  for  the  trying  ordeal  by  climbing  some  of  the  smaller 
hills  near  the  camp,  and  accustoming  their  tender  feet  to  the  rugged 
pathways  around  the  steep  cliffs.  After  spending  several  weeks 
in  one  of  these  camps  and  taking  daily  sight-seeing  tramps  over 
the  rough  country,  your  white  skin  becomes  a  dark  brown,  from 


BEDFORD    COUXTY,    VA.  97 

exposure  to  tlie  sun  and  wind ;   your  muscles  harden,  your  appetite 
sharpens,  and  your  thirst  for  the  pure  tempting  water  cannot  be 
quenched,   though  you  may  gulp   down,  without  any   unpleasant 
effect,  as  much  as  a  pint  or  a  quart  at  a  time,  many  times  during 
the  day.     When  the  order  is  given  to  break  camp  all  are  loth  to 
leave  the  spot  that  has  given  them  so  much  sweet  sleep,  and  re- 
newed vitality.     These  camping  grounds  can  be  had  on  any  of  the 
mountains  or  knobs,  where  space  enough  to  pitch  your  tent  can 
be  found.     A  log  cabin  with  an  open  covered  porch  located  near 
one  of  these  elevated  springs,  is  all  that  a  person  wants,  who  has 
weak  lungs.     He  craves  some  healing  power  before  reaching  that 
stage   when    altitude,   water,   honey,    and   sweet   milk   will    avail 
nothing.     These  four  requisites  can  be  found  in  ample  proportions 
for  many  thousand  sufferers,  who  can  avail  themselves  of  them  at 
prime  costs.    To  emphasize  what  has  already  been  said  of  Bedford 
County,  as  a  health  resort,  mention  should  be  made  of  a  young 
man  from  Nebraska,  who  came  post  haste  to  Bedford  for  relief, 
and  got  it.     This  young  man  and  his  wife  left  Virginia  for  the 
West  some  time  during  1897,  and  after  engaging  in  an  active  and 
successful   cattle  business   on  the  plains,  he  contracted   a  fever, 
which  reduced  his  avoirdupois  from  185  pounds  to  less  than  100 
pounds.     His  vitality  was  at  such  a  low  ebb  that  his  loving  wife 
had  to  lift  him  from  bed  to  lounge.     After  having  a  severe  spell 
of  pneumonia,     there     were     apprehensions  of  complications.     So 
his    physician.    Dr.    Thomas    Bass,    advised    him    to    flee    to    the 
mountains  of  old  Bedford  at  once,  if  he  hoped  to  live  two  years 
longer.     He  and  his  family  arrived  at  Bedford  City,  December, 
1900,  and  by  February,  1901,  they  were  comfortably  housed  in  a 
new  log  cabin  located  on  an  elevation  of  3,000  feet  above  the  sea 
level,  near  a  cool  freestone  spring,  which  would  keep   a  three- 
inch  pipe  constantly  full.    He  followed  his  doctor's  instructions  to 
throw  away  all  medicine  and  in  due  season  by  the  help  of  a  few 
laborers  he  raised  the  finest  crop  of  Irish  potatoes,  cabbage,  rye 
and  oats.     By  the  middle  of  the  summer  he  had  partly  regained 
his  health,  and  by  February,  1902,  he  left  his  mountain  home  for 
the  flat  woods,  a  well  and  hearty  man,  and  now  weighs  187  ]iounds. 
1  will  never  forget  the  cheerful,  happy  smile  on  the  young  wife's 
face  when  ske  greeted  me  one  autumn  evening  in  front  of  her 
cabin  home,  and  told  me  of  her  loved  one's  wonderful  recovery. 
His  wife  was  a  Bedford  teacher  before  marriage,  and  had  taught 
on  Porter's  Mountain  near  "Cool  Spring." 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


SOCIAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 


With  a  population  composed  of  such  elements,  it  will  be  easil}'' 
'comprehended  that  the  social  and  religious  features  of  Bedford 
County  are  strongly  marked.  Through  generations  of  inter- 
marriage with  each  other,  the  feeling  of  a  conmiunity  of  interest 
has  been  accentuated;  and  that  hospitality,  for  which  the  owners 
of  Virginia's  generous  soil  have  become  renowned  the  world  over, 
reaches  its  highest  development  within  sight  of  Bedford's  blue 
peaks. 

Here,  the  stranger  will  be  "taken  in,"  not  in  the  popular  sense 
of  that  much-abused  expression,  but  in  true  Scriptural  manner, 
and  will  always  find  the  fatted  calf,  and  the  best  chamber  in  the 
dwelling  at  his  service.  Indeed,  the  rites  of  hospitality  are  sacred, 
and  may  be  said  to  be  a  part  of  the  religion  of  a  Virginian.  Its 
laws  are  handed  down  from  father  to  son,  and  their  observance  is 
regarded  with  punctilious  exactness ;  deliberate  disregard,  a 
refusal  on  application  for  entertainment,  being  a  thing  nlinost 
unheard  of,  and  an  act  which  would  meet  with  general  ;uid  un- 
sparing condemnation.  Eeligion  composes  a  large  and  vital 
element  in  the  lives  of  most  of  these  people,  the  four  leading  ortho- 
dox denominations  having  all  a  large  membership.  As  might  be 
inferred  from  the  simple  earnest  lives  which  they  live,  ch-efiy  as 
tillers  of  the  soil,  religion  to  them  must  be  a  practical,  useful 
and  simple  faith.  We  find  that  the  Methodist  and  Baptist  churches 
have  the  largest  following,  in  the  order  named.  Then  come  the 
Presbyterian  and  Episcopalian,  and  after  them  \nrioiis  other  de- 
nominations representing  fewer  members.  In  some  portions  of  the 
county  the  Tunker  or  Dunkard  faith  is  represented,  and  its  mem- 
bers here,  as  elsewhere,  exhilnt  that  thrift,  neatness,  and  simplicitv 
of  life,  in  which  they  so  nearly  resemble  the  Quakers.  ''J'he  Metho- 
dists have  some  thirty  odd  churches  dotted  all  over  the  county; 
under  the  law  of  the  church  no  pastor  can  remain  on  a  charge 
longer  than  four  years;  the  membership  will  aggregate  about  three 
thousand.  The  Baptists  have  as  many  churches  and  lack  only  a 
few  hundred  of  havino;  as  manv  memliers.     The  Presbvterians  and 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  99 

the  Episcopalians  are  nearly  equal  in  church  propeity  and  mem- 
bership, with  a  slight  difference  in  favor  of  the  former,  which 
have  some  ten  churches  and  about  four  hundred  members.  Each 
church  of  the  last  named  denominations  reserves  the  right  to  call 
or  dismiss  a  minister  at  the  pleasure  of  the  congregation,  and  a 
reciprocal  right  is  accorded  to  the  preacher.  There  is  a  flourishing 
Eoman  Catholic  Church  at  Bedford  City,  with  a  strong  member- 
ship. Of  course  this  is  a  general  statement,  including  the  statistics 
of  the  white  and  black  races;  the  temperament  of  the  latter,  and 
other  reasons,  making  all  of  them  member 5  of  some  religious 
organization.  The  two  races  have  their  church  property  and  their 
religious  gatherings  independently  of  each  other,  both  as  to 
church  government  and  worship;  the  Protestant  Episcopal  prob- 
ably being  the  only  exception  as  to  church  government  and  as  to 
ownership  of  church  property.  The  Christian  church  has 
recently  built  a  neat,  nice  little  church  at  Bedford  City,  and  has  a 
small  membership.  This  church  has  a  large  college  in  Lynchburg. 
The  Eandolph-Macon  Academy  at  Bedford  City,  one  of  the  best  and 
largest  schools  conducted  for  boys,  belongs  to  the  Virginia  Con- 
ference of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  is  the  only  school  in  the 
county  that  has  to  report  to  any  church  organization.  Boys  pre- 
pared here  readily  enter  higher  institutions  of  learning  in  this 
or  any  other  state. 


100  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


RAILROADS 

Few  sections  of  the  South  have  better  railroad  facilities  thau 
Bedford  County.  The  Norfolk  &  Western  Eailway  with  its  ex- 
cellent double  track  passes  diagonally  through  the  county  from 
southwest  to  northeast,  over  an  easy  grade,  carrying  an  immense 
amount  of  through  freight  and  coal. 

The  C.  &  0.  Eailway  follows  a  water  grade  along  the  James 
Eiver  all  through  the  county,  and  is  a  great  coal  bearing  road. 
The  new  Tidewater  Eailway  enters  the  county  near  Staunton  Eiver, 
some  five  miles  below  the  City  of  Eoanoke,  thence  crossing  the 
great  mineral  section  to  Goose  Creek,  and  down  said  creek  to 
Staunton  Eiver.  Preparations  for  double  tracking  this  road  are 
being  made.  With  these  three  excellent  railways  paralleling  each 
other  on  their  way  to  the  seas,  from  rich  coal  fields  of  the  west, 
there  is  no  reason  why  farmers  should  not  obtain  the  highest 
prices  for  all  their  surplus  products;  at  present  the  demand  is 
far  greater  than  the  supply,  as  numbers  of  the  best  farm  hands 
are  working  on  the  public  works,  thus  cutting  down  the  annual 
output  from  the  farm.  It  would  be  hard  to  buy  a  farm  in  Bed- 
ford County  that  is  not  within  a  few  hours^  ride  of  a  railroad. 
Should  the  railroad  from  Big  Island  via  Bedford  City  to  Eocky 
Mount.  Va.,  ever  be  built,  it  will  add  materially  to  the  present 
railroad  facilities.  People  living  near  the  Campbell  County  line 
aie  in  easy  reach  of  the  Southern  Eailroad,  and  parties  residing 
on  the  Blue  Eidge  Mountains  of  Bedford  County  can  go  to  the 
Shenandoah  Division  of  the  N".  &  W.  Eailway.  From  Smith 
Mountain  you  reach  the  Eock  Mountain  branch  of  the  Southern, 
eio-ht  miles  distant. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  101 


PUBLIC  ROADS 

The  Lynchburg  and  Salem  Rock  Turnpike  enters  Bedford  County 
a  mile  west  of  New  London,  and  within  a  few  yards  of  the  cele- 
brated Bedford  Iron  and  Alum  Springs,  so  widely  known  for  their 
medicinal  qualities;  a  mile  further  west  it  passes  by  New  London 
Academy,  one  of  the  oldest  endowed  institutions  of  learning  in 
the  State — it  is  now  run  as  a  joint  High  School  for  Bedford  and 
Campbell  counties.  Thence  the  Eock  Pike  passes  from  ridge  to 
ridge  until  it  reaches  Bedford  City;  thence,  parallel  with  the 
N.  &  W.  Eailway,  to  Montvale,  Vinton,  etc.  This  pike  is  much 
used  in  muddy  weather  east  of  Bedford  City.  It  was  built  for  a 
stage  road  long  before  the  time  of  railroads,  and  if  not  disturbed 
will  endure  forever.  The  dirt  roads  radiate  from  Bedford  City 
as  a  center  to  every  nook  and  corner  of  the  county  and  would 
aggregate  1,500  miks.  Two  forces  of  convicts  from  the  Virginia 
slate  penitentiary  are  constantly  at  work  on  these  roads,  grading, 
widening,  and  building  new  ones.  This  system  of  working  the 
roads  has  been  in  operation  for  a  number  of  years.  Each  force  is 
equipped  with  teams,  scrapers,  road  ploughs,  etc.  The  manager 
has  charge  of  the  force,  under  the  supervision  of  the  supervisor 
of  the  district  in  which  he  is  working,  and  is  assisted  by  a 
teamster,  machine  man,  two  day  guards  and  one  night  guard. 
The  annual  expenditure  for  roads  amounts  to  something  like  $18- 
OOO.  When  the  farmers  contiguous  -to  the  main  thoroughfares 
are  encouraged  to  utilize  the  surface  stone  on  their  fields,  in 
macadamizing  a  section  of  road,  the  mud  will  disappear,  travel  will 
be  easier,  land  will  advance,  farm  life  be  more  pleasant,  distance 
will  vanish,  and  rock  crushers  and  rollers  will  be  much  in  evidence. 


102  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


A  MODEL  ROAD 

Some  enterprising  men,  wlio  own  farms  along  the  line  of  the 
public  road  leading  from  Boonsboro  in  this  county  to  the  City  of 
Ijynchburg  have  secured  permission  from  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  Bedford  County  to  regrade  and  build  a  macadam  road 
vo  the  county  line,  and  for  this  purpose  have  raised  a  private 
subscription,  which  will  be  supplemented  by  an  extra  force  of  con- 
victs from  the  state  penitentiary.  The  necessary  j^relimmary  survey 
has  been  made  under  the  supervision  of  the  State  Highway  commis- 
sioner, and  at  an  early  date  we  hope  to  see  the  realization  of  this  ef- 
fort. At  the  proper  time  a  force  of  some  forty-five  or  fifty  convicts 
from  the  state  penitentiary,  under  the  supervision  of  the  State 
highway  connuissioner,  with  his  guards  and  necessary  supplies  and 
camp  equipment,  will  begin  work  on  this  model  highway.  The 
location  is  a  most  excellent  one,  along  a  ridge  with  no  hills,  ravines, 
or  streams ;  the  grade  and  width  will  be  estalilished  first,  and  then 
the  process  of  putting  down  the  macadam  from  the  ])est  stone,  that 
can  be  obtained  in  less  than  800  yards  of  the  road.  All  of  the 
building  stones  along  the  line  of  this  road  have  been  tested  by  the 
government  experts  at  "Washington,  and  none  but  the  best  road 
material  will  be  used  in  making  the  road  bed.  The  most  improved 
machinery,  and  the  best  methods  of  road  making  will  be  put 
fortli  on  these  macadam  roads,  so  that  when  this  system  is  fully 
installed  in  this  county,  we  shall  never  go  back  to  the  old  plan  of 
piling  up  dirt  in  the  dry  season  to  be  washed  away  in  the  wet. 
This  has  been  done  every  year  since  the  county  was  organized,  and 
recently  to  the  tune  of  $18,000  annually. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  103 

GOVERNMENT 

COUNTY 

For  the  convenience  of  its  people  the  county  of  Bedford  is 
divided  into  eight  townships  or  magisterial  districts.  Each  district 
elects  its  own  supervisors,  overseer  of  the  poor,  constable,  and 
three  justices  of  the  peace.  The  eight  supervisors  elected,  con- 
stitute the  l^oard  of  supervisors  for  the  whole  county,  who  meet 
monthly  at  the  court  house  to  look  after  the  business  and  welfare 
of  the  county,  locate  new  roads,  build  new  bridges  and  repair  the 
old  ones ;  in  fact,  transact  all  business  operations  of  the  county ; 
assess  the  different  levies  for  county,  roads  and  school  purposes. 

The  sheriff,  treasurer,  commonwealth  attorney,  and  clerk  of  the 
court  are  elected  by  the  people.  The  commissioners  of  revenue 
and  the  land  assessors  are  appointed  by  the  Judge  of  the  circuit 
court,  who  is  elected  by  the  legislature,  .and  holds  four  regular 
terms  of  his  court  at  Bedford  City  during  the  year.  There  are 
nine  school  districts  in  the  county  and  twenty-seven  school  teachers, 
who  are  elected  by  the  school  teachers'  Elective  Board,  each  district 
having  three  trustees,  who  have  charge  of  the  free  schools  in  their 
respective  districts.  They  elect  the  teachers,  fix  the  salaries,  build 
and  repair  school  houses,  etc.  The  overseer  of  the  poor  house  for 
the  county  is  elected  by  the  board  of  supervisors,  as  is  also  the 
county  surveyor  and  the  road  commissioner,  or  engineer,  who 
has  charge  of  the  public  roads  of  the  county,  under  direction  of 
the  board  of  supervisors.  The  duties  of  the  clerk  of  the  court 
and  the  justice  of  the  peace  have  been  greatly  enlarged  since  the 
county  court  system  was  abolished. 

TOWN 

The  town  of  Bedford  City,  Virginia,  is  incorporated  and  under 
its  charter  elects  its  own  officers,  viz. :  A  mayor,  eight  councillors, 
a  recorder,  and  town  sergeant.  The  superintendent  of  the  electric 
plant,  policemen,  and  the  superintendent  of  the  water  and  street 
forces  are  elected  by  the  council.  The  council  fixes  the  tax  rate- 
and  license  fees. 


104 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


o    a 


C     K 
H     O 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  105 


INTERESTING  REMINISCENCES 

New  London,  eleven  miles  southwest  of  Lynchburg,  at  first  the 
county  seat  of  Lunenburg  County,  on  the  formation  of  Bedford 
County,  in  1753,  was  made  the  county  seat  of  the  latter.  Still 
later,  under  the  old  district  system,  the  supreme  court  was  held 
here.  Here  it  was  that  the  orator,  Patrick  Henry,  delivered  his 
celebrated  speech  in  the  John  Hook  case.  Through  the  inimitable 
delineation  of  Wirt,  the  ludicrous  refrain  of  Henry,  "Beef,  beef, 
beef,"  is  almost  borne  to  the  ears  of  the  present  generation,  as  are 
counsel  and  plaintiff  thus  immortalized,  to  their  mental  vision. 
"Hook  was  a  Scotchman,  a  man  of  wealth,  and  suspected  of  being 
unfriendly  to  the  American  cause."  During  the  distress  of  the 
American  army,  consequent  on  the  joint  invasion  of  the  armies 
of  Cornwallis  and  Phillips  in  1781,  a  Mr.  Yenable,  an  army 
commissary,  had  taken  two  of  Hook's  steers  for  the  use  of  the 
troops.  This  act  had  not  been  strictly  legal,  and  on  the  establish- 
ment of  peace.  Hook,  under  the  advice  of  Mr.  Cowan,  a  gentle- 
man of  some  distinction  in  the  law.  thought  proper  to  bring  an 
action  of  trespass  against  Mr.  Venable  in  the  district  court  of 
New  London.  Mr.  Henry  appeared  for  the  defendant,  and  is 
said  to  have  disported  himself  in  this  cause  to  the  infinite  enjoy- 
ment of  his  hearers,  the  unfortunate  Hook  always  excepted.  After 
Mr.  Henry  became  animated  in  the  cause,  says  a  con-espondent 
(Judge  Archibald  Stuart) ,  he  appeared  to  have  complete  control  over 
the  passions  of  his  audience.  At  one  time  he  excited  their  indigna- 
tion against  Hook;  vengeance  was  visible  in  every  countenance. 
Again,  when  he  chose  to  relax  and  ridicule  him,  the  whole  audience 
was  in  a  roar  of  laughter.  He  painted  the  distress  of  the  American 
army,  exposed  almost  naked  to  the  rigor  of  a  winter's  sky,  and 
marking  the  frozen  ground  over  which  they  marched  with  the 
blood  of  their  unshod  feet.  "Where  was  the  man,"  said  he.  "who 
had  an  American  heart  in  his  bosom,  who  would  not  have  thrown 
open  his  fields,  his  learns,  his  cellars,  the  doors  of  his  house,  the 
portals  of  his  breast,  to  have  received  with  open  arms  the  meanest 
soldier   in   that   little   band   of   famished   heroes?     \^Tiere   is   the 


106  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

man  ?  There  he  stands !  Whether  the  heart  of  an  American 
beats  in  his  bosom,  you,  gentlemen,  are  to  judge."  He  then  carried 
the  jury  by  the  power  of  his  imagination  to  the  plains  around 
York,  the  surrender  of  which  followed  shortly  after  the  act  com- 
plained of;  he  depicted  the  surrender  in  glowing  and  noble  colors 
by  his  eloquence.  The  audience  saw  before  their  eyes  the  humilia- 
tion and  dejection  of  the  British  as  they  marched  out  of  their 
trenches;  they  saw  the  triumph  which  lighted  up  every  patriot's 
face,  and  heard  the  shouts  of  victory  and  the  cry  of  "Washington 
and  liberty !"  as  it  rang  and  echoed  through  the  American  ranks, 
and  reverberated  from  the  hills  and  shores  of  our  neighboring 
river.  But.  hark,  hark,  what  notes  of  discord  are  those,  which 
disturb  the  general  joy,  and  silence  the  acclamations  of  victory? 
They  are  the  notes  of  John  Hook  hoarsely  bawling  through  the 
American  camp,  "beef,  beef,  beef."  The  whole  audience  was  con- 
vulsed. A  particular  incident  will  give  a  better  idea  of  the  effect 
than  any  general  description.  The  Clerk  of  the  Court,  unable 
to  command  himself,  and  unwilling  to  commit  any  breach  of 
decorum  in  his  place,  rushed  out  of  the  courthouse  and  threw 
hmiself  on  the  grass  in  the  most  violent  paroxysms  of  laughter, 
where  he  was  rolling,  when  Hook,  with  very  different  feelings,  came 
out  for  relief  into  the  yard  also.  "Jemmy  Steptoe."  said  he  to  the 
clerk,  "What  the  devil  ails  you  now?"  Mr.  Steptoe  was  only  able 
to  say  that  he  could  not  help  it.  "Xever  mind  ye,"  said  Hook, 
"wait  'till  Billy  Cowan  gets  up,  he'll  show 'him  the  law."  Mr. 
Cowan,  ho'wever,  was  so  completely  overwhelmed  by  the  torrent 
vhich  bore  upon  his  client  that  when  he  rose  to  reply  to  Mr.  Henry, 
he  was  scarcely  able  to  make  an  intelligent  or  audible  remark.  The 
case  was  decided  almost  by  acclamation.  The  jury  retired  for 
form's  sake,  and  instantly  returned  with  a  verdict  for  the  defend- 
ant. ISTor  did  the  effect  of  Mr.  Henry's  speech  stop  here.  The 
people  were  so  highly  excited  by  the  audacity  of  such  a  suit  that 
Hook  began  to  hear  around  him  a  cry  more  terrible  than  that  of 
beef;  it  was  the  cry  of  tar  and  feathers:  from  the  application 
of  which  it  is  said  that  nothing  saved  him  but  a  precipitate  flight 
and  the  speed  of  his  horse.  The  legal  record,  which  is  still  preserved 
in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  circuit  court  of  Franklin  County.  Vir- 
ginia, and  of  which  we  have  a  copy,  exhibits  that  Wirt  was  some- 
what in  error  in  his  report  of  the  result  of  the  case.     The  original 


BEDiOIW    COUNTY,    \A.  107 

vti-dicf  appears  to  have  been  "for  the  phuntiff,  one  penny  damages," 
A\hith  was  confirmed  by  the  general  court,  to  which  he  appealed. 
The  record  is  as  follows:  "The  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  to  the 
Sheriff  of  Campbell  County,  greeting :  You  are  hereby  commanded 
to  take  John  Tenable,  if  he  be  found  within  your  Ixailiwick,  and  him 
safely  keep,  so  that  you  have  his  l)ody  before  the  judges  of  the 
general  court,  at  the  Court-House  in  the  City  of  Eichmond,  on  the 
■^3rd  day  of  the  Court  now  sitting,  to  answer  John  Hook  of  a  plea 
of  tres]3ass  on  the  case.  Damage,  forty  pounds.  And  have  there 
this  writ.  Witness,  Paul  Carrington,  Esq.,  chief  justice  of  our 
said  Court  of  Eichmond,  the  5th  day  of  April.  1783. 

In  the  seventli  year  of  Commonwealth. 

John  Brown,  C.  G.  C. 

Hook     ^       Capias  executed. 

V,  >  Charles  Moorman,  Bail. 

Venable.  J  •  D-  Talbot." 

Then  follows  this  complaint  of  John  Hook,  reciting  the  facts  a^ 
deposed,  giving  the  date  of  his  despoilment  as  October  10,  1781, 
and  fixing  the  value  of  the  oxen  at  fifteen  pounds.  His  counsel 
before  the  general  court  was  "Baker,"  presumably  German  Baker, 
a  distinguished  lawyer  of  the  period.  The  original  verdict  is  given 
as  follows:     "We,  the  jurv  find  our  plaintiff  one  penny  damages. 

"John  Patrick." 

The  case  appears  to  have  been  continued  in  the  general  court 
until  September.  1789,  when— "CI.  v.  Deft,  and  Charles  Moorman^ 
his  surety,  confirmed."  "The  costs  in  General  Court  310  lbs.  tob. 
and  50  pounds  tobacco,  or  500  lbs. 

J.  Brown,  C.  G.  C. 

"Issue  for  plaintiff  for  one  penny  damages. 

"Issue  cli'd.  New  London.  ^-  Rife-" 

John  Hook,  the  plaintiff,  from  various  accounts  which  Ave  have 
gleaned,  was  a  prosperous  merchant  and  farmer,  from  which  fact 
an  inference  may  be  drawn  as  to  the  estimation  in  wliich  he  was 
lield  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

His  descendants  are  now  among  the  most  respectable  residents  of 
Caii!])l)(  11  County  and  other  sections  of  the  State. 


108  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


SCHOOLS 


The  progress  of  educational  growth,  though  slow,  has  been  sure. 
Space  does  not  permit  us  to  follow  its  footsteps,  but  merely  to  sup- 
ply some  leading  statistics.  The  school  system,  before  the  Civil 
War,  was  a  neighborhood  affair.  Usually  a  few  enterprising  farmers, 
who  were  ambitious  for  the  education  of  their  children,  would  com- 
bine to  build  a  school  house,  and  employ  a  teacher,  who  was  expect- 
ed to  remain  there  from  day  dawn  to  sunset.  A  sketch  of  its 
equipment  may  convey  some  idea  of  the  primitive  condition  of 
things  We  see  a  big  log  house ;  an  open  fireplace,  wide  and  deep  (fed 
twice  daily  by  wood  sawed  by  the  older  boys)  ;  andirons  formed  of 
rocks,  three  or  four  feet  long ;  space  left  in  one  corner  for  coal  ashes 
on  which  to  roast  potatoes,  eggs,  etc. ;  a  Jong  stick  nearer  the  hoi 
€oals,  on  which  to  warm  bread,  pies,  etc.  To  the  right  of  the  fire- 
place stands  a  chair  for  the  teacher's  sole  use;  nearby  is  a  window, 
cut  out  of  part  of  two  logs  in  the  wall,  and  filled  with  glass ;  three 
chestnut  slabs  constitute  long  benches  for  the  scholars,  forming  a 
semi-circle  in  front  of  the  teacher;  on  the  other  side  of  the  room 
is  another  window,  and  against  the  wall  a  long  wooden  slab,,  as 
writing  desk.  The  door  stands  open,  to  give  additional  light  to  the 
pupils;  its  hinges  are  of  wood,  and  a  few  nails  wrought  by  the 
blacksmith.  The  flooring  is  of  solid  wood,  impervious  to  heat  or 
fire.  A  thatched  roof  carries  the  gable  ends  to  the  top  of  the  dwell- 
ing, giving  a  high-pitched,  conical  ceiling,  well  ventilated  except 
where  the  cracks  are  securely  daubed  with  red  mud.  A  pole,  axe, 
auger  and  saw,  are  the  only  tools  employed  in  making  this  build- 
ing. 

Many  of  the  greatest  scholars  and  statesmen  of  the  age  received 
their  primary  education  in  just  such  an  edifice  as  this,  and  their 
future  wives  swept  the  floors  during  recess.  After  completing  a 
course  of  English  and  Latin,  many  of  the  pupils  attended  acad- 
•emies,  preparatory  to  entering  college  or  the  University  of  Ya.  Th-^ 
girls  attended  village  boarding  schools,  or  studied  accom])li<hnients 
at  home  imder  a  tutor.  Many  boys  continued  the  strenuous  life 
of  home  duties,  strengthened  by  the  exercise  of  mental  develop- 
ment. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.. 


109 


In  i:!)9.  a  very  substantial  four-roomed  frame  building  was 
erected  in  Liberty,,  combining  school  house,  Masonic  temple,  sur- 
geon's room,  and  drug  store.  So  delise  was  the  forest  and  under- 
growth of  this  locality  (it  is  now  the  site  of  Bedford  City)  that 
small  children  were  not  allowed  to  go  far  from  the  house  lest  they 
should  be  lost  in  the  woods. 

In  1800,  Jonas  Irvine  taught  school  in  a  small  house,  later  known 
as  Oakwood.  In  1812  Miss  Nancy  Thomas  began  a  very  successful 
career  as  teacher;  and  about  1810  Mrs.  Leftwich  established  a 
flourishing  school  at  the  old  "Beal  floor"  near  the  Pike. 

PRIVATE  SCHOOLS 

In  1827  Eev.  Y.  Smith  and  his  wife  opened  a  private  school  in 
"Liberty."  He  was  a  Presbyterian  and  successful  in  his  vocation. 
Eev.  Joel  Flood  lived  in  a  log  cabin,  two  miles  west  from  Bedford 
Citv,  planted  a  little  school  house  in  a  grove  near  the  "Granville 
Sanatorium."  His  reputation  as  a  thorough  instructor  was  great, 
his  discipline  was  rigid;  the  hickory  law  applied  to  both  boy  and 
girl :  the  chivalry  however  of  the  genus  homo  often  averted  the  im- 
pending fate  of  the  feminine  victim,  and  some  noble  boy  became 
the  scapegoat.     The  offence  was  never  repeated. 

Mr.  John  A.  Estes,  who  taught  in  Campbell,  Prince  Edward  and 
Bedford  Counties,  understood  something  of  political  economy,  he 
contracted  with  some  prominent  farmers  for  his  entir-  salarv, 
board  and  laundry,  during  a  nine  months'  session ;  had  consequently 
no  unpaid  tuition,  and  was  able  to  lend  money  on  good  security. 
He  died  at  a  ripe  old  age,  unmarried,  and  rich. 

Mr.  Lewis  Campbell  was  another  fine  and  successful  tutor. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  L.  Dunton,  conducted  a  flourishing  school 
in  the  old  Campbell  House.  Mr.  William  A.  Claytor  also  took 
charge  of  large  schools  in  Ephesus,  Piedmont  and  Bedford  City ;  he 
lived  to  see  many  of  his  pupils  follow  his  footsteps.  His  keen 
sense  of  humor  and  appropriate  jokes  were  always  an  inspiration 
and  refreshment  to  pupil  and  friend.  Capt.  James  G.  Board, 
another  prominent  leader,  was  a  graduate  of  Columbia  College, 
AYashington.  D.  C;  for  four  years  was  county  superintendent  of 
Bedford  County,  resumed  his  former  profession,  and  now  lives  on 
his   farm   near   Staunton   Eiver.     In    spite   of   the  loss   of   a   leg 


110 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  Ill 

donated  to  his  country's  cause,  he  is  as  energetic  and  vigorous  as 
ever.  Rev.  J.  A.  Davis  came  here  from  Washington  County,  Vir- 
ginia, with  many  years'  experience  as  a  teacher.  He  was  elected 
superintendent  of  schools  for  the  county;  energy  and  push  charac- 
terized his  administration.  Capt.  A.  D.  Hawkins  taught  the  same 
school  for  seven  consecutive  sessions,  served  as  clerk  of  district 
school,  trustee  for  seven  years,  was  elected  superintendent  of 
county  schools  for  three  terms,  and  for  eighteen  years  has  been  in 
the  real  estate  business  in  Bedford  City.  Prof.  Charles  B.  Tate, 
a  graduate  of  V.  M.  I.,  taught  private  schools  at  various  points,  and 
a  teachers'  training  school  at  Montreal,  Va.,  which  turned  out  some 
■of  the  best  teachers  in  the  county.  His  noble  wife  was  a  great 
lielp  to  him,  both  here  and  at  Pulaski  City,  where  they  are  now 
actively  engaged. 

Mr.  Roy  B.  Smith,  a  graduate  of  Lynchburg  High  School,  taught 
in  this  county  for  several  sessions,  took  his  B.  L.  degree  at  the 
University  of  Virginia,  practiced  law  in  Lynchburg  and  Roanoke, 
was  Commonwealth  Attorney  in  that  city,  and  a  member  of  the 
council.  Mr.  0.  C.  Rucker,  graduate  from  Roanoke  College,  taught 
in  our  schools  for  several  sessions  and  has  practiced  law  for  many 
years  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Graham  Claytor,  a  student  of  private  schools,  taught  for 
several  terms,  studied  law,  practiced  in  Bedford  City,  was  elected 
commonwealth  attorney,  and  state  senator,  ran  for  Congress,  and 
was  an  author  and  gifted  orator. 

In  1849  the  "Mountain  View  Seminary"  for  girls  was  established. 
Mrs.  E.  T.  Smith  was  principal;  in  1852  Rev.  V.  Smith  bought 
the  school,  was  assisted  by  Rev.  H.  S.  Osborne  and  others.  In 
1854  the  property  was  sold  to  Prof.  S.  L.  Dinton,  who  taught  here 
Tintil  1857,  when  he  bought  the  Campbell  House,  of  which  previous 
mention  has  been  made.  In  a  few  years  the  seminary  was  moved 
to  the  present  l)uilding-. 

Rev.  James  Cofer  taught  in  the  old  Baptist  Church,  now  occu- 
pied by  Dr.  J.  W.  Sale.  "Piedmont  Institute"  was  built  in  1850 
by  stockholders.  Some  of  the  first  principals  were  Mrs.  H.  L. 
Davis,  W.  C.  Claytor,  AYilliam  E.  Peters,  Col.  James  iillen.  Lyman 
Wharton,  H.  S.  Osborne,  Roy  R.  Allen,  Prof.  Riders,  Prof.  Wythe, 
Shoane,   Stoat,   Clayborne,  L.   Douglas,  W.   Douglas,  LoA\Ti'y,  and 


112  HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

others.  There  were  once  one  hundred  and  forty  boys  and  girls. 
This  property  was  afterwards  sold  to  the  Municipal  School  Board 
for  a  colored  school  building,  which  is  largely  attended.  Bedford 
Female  Seminary,  located  on  Bridge  Street  was  built  by  stock- 
holders in  1835.  Eev.  V.  Smith,  Jacob  Mitchell,  Edward  Johnston, 
Mesdames  F.  Smith,  Henruquey  (a  Dane)  and  JSJ".  P.  Gladding, 
taught  successfully  large  schools.  In  1852  Mrs.  L.  L.  Lomac  and 
seven  daughters  took  charge.  In  1852  while  Mr.  H.  L.  Davis  was 
principal,  the  whole  structure  was  burned  down. 

NEW  LONDON  ACADEMY 

This   school  was  chartered  in   1795.     We  select  extracts  from 
the  constitution: 

"Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  that  the  following' 
gentlemen  (here  follow  names  of  thirteen  leading  men)  are  hereby 
constituted  a  body  politic  and  corporate  to  have  perpetual  continu- 
ance by  the  name  of  Trustees  of  the  New  London  Academy."  "Any 
seven  of  these  trustees  can  constitute  a  board."  "An  act  to  raise 
by  Lottery  a  sum  of  money  passed  December  13,  1796."  "It  shall 
be  lawful  for  the  trustees  to  raise  by  lottery  the  sum  of  ten  thousand 
pounds  to  defray  expenses  of  erecting  buildings,  and  establishing 
permanent  fund  for  the  support  of  said  Academy."  "Ordered  that 
all  funds  be  deposited  in  the  Virginia  Bank  at  Lynchburg."  "On 
October,  1826,  ordered  that  a  committee  confer  with  Eev.  Nicholas 
H.  Cobb  to  ascertain  upon  what  terms  he  would  be  willing  to  take 
charge  of  the  Academy  as  Tutor." 

From  Secretary's  Minutes. 
"On  October  19th,  1826,  Prof.  J.  McConnell  resigned.  Eev.  N. 
H.  Cobbs  accepted  the  tutorship  under  promise  of  twenty  students. 
On  September  28th,  1830,  Mr.  Cobbs  resigned,  Mr.  H.  L.  Davis 
succeeded  him.  There  were  twenty-two  rules  and  regulations  for 
the  tutor's  guidance.  At  the  end  of  the  session  there  shall  be  a 
rigid  examination  in  public  of  all  the  students,  which  will  be  pub- 
lished in  the  Lynchburg  newspapers.  In  July,  1831,  Harrison 
Chilton  was  elected  trustee  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  Samuel  Eead.  George  E,  Dabney,  Alex.  P.  Campbell,  and  Eev. 
Thomas  Bro\^^l  succeeded  each  other  as  principals.  March  5th, 
1846,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  see  that  the  will  of  the  late 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  113 

Harrison  Chilton  was  probated.  June  30th,  1849,  ordered  that 
Judge  Fleming  Saunders  arrange  with  the  council  in  the  Chilton 
v'ill  suit." 

Copy  of  the  Will  of  Harrison  GMlton,  dec'd. 

"I,  J.  H.  Chilton,  considering  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  the 
duty  of  being  prepared  for  death,  do  make  and  ordain  this  my 
last  will  and  testament,  hereby  revoking  all  my  former  wills  and 
codicils. 

1st.  I  desire  that  all  my  just  debts  be  paid,  and  for  this  purpose 
and  purposes  hereafter  declared,  I  desire  my  executors  to  sell  all 
my  land  now  owned  by  me,  or  which  I  may  own  at  the  time  of  my 
death. 

2nd.  I  desire  my  executors  to  sell  all  the  slaves  I  may  own  at 
the  time  of  my  death,  at  public  auction,  for  ready  money,  and  to 
sell  all  of  my  personal  property  of  every  description. 

3rd.  The  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  lands,  negroes,  and  per- 
sonal property  with  all  my  debts  that  may  be  owing  me  (after  the 
payment  of  my  just  debts)  I  give  to  the  Trustees  of  Nqw  London 
Academy,  to  be  put  out  at  interest  on  substantial  land  security  or 
vested  in  some  good  and  safe  stock ;  the  annual  interest  to  be  used 
for  the  benefit  of  New  London  Academy. 

4th.  I  appoint  Nathaniel  Manson,  and  Eobert  E.  Manson,  Exe- 
cutors of  this,  my  last  will  and  testament,  and  earnestly  desire 
they  will  execute  my  will  as  declared."     October  15th,  1845. 

"In  1851,  E.  W.  Horsley  was  principal,  and  succeeded  in  1854  by 
Castor  J.  Harris.  August,  1854,  Edward  Sextus  Hutter  was  elect- 
ed trustee." 

"April  3rd,  1857,  E.  G.  H.  Kean  delivered  an  address  at  com- 
mencement, a  band  of  music  engaged  not  to  cost  more  than  $50.00." 

No  minutes  are  recorded  between  1863  and  1867.  The  princi- 
pal's  house  was  burnt  down,  and  the  Federal  troops  destroyed  all 
documents  and  papers  in  the  desk  of  the  secretary.  E.  S.  Hutter, 
Secretary,  resided  at  Poplar  Grove,  the  once  beautiful  home  (near 
Forest)  of  President  Thomas  Jefferson;  it  is  still  in  the  family 
and  owned  by  his  son,  C.  S.  Hutter. 

In  June,  1871,  an  effort  was  made  to  open  the  Academy  as  a  free 
school,  but  it  was  found  impracticable, 


114 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  115 

In  June^  1884,  however,  the  committee  reported  favorably  on  the 
joint  running  of  the  Academy  with  the  public  schools,  and  in 
August,  1880,  Mr.  D.  W.  Eead,  M.  A.,  University  Va.,  was  elected 
principal  at  a  fixed  salary  and  tuition  free.  It  is  now  one  of  the 
foremost  schools  in  the  State  as  a  trainer  of  students  and  teachers. 
One  hundred  and  fifty  names  were  enrolled  the  first  session,  and 
forty  in  the  Teachers'  Training  School. 


CO-OPERATIVE  SCHOOL  FOR  FEMALES 

This  school  will  enter  its  tenth  session  in  September  next.  It 
boards  girls  at  exact  cost,  giving  a  liberal  education  for  a  session 
of  Dine  months  at  a  cost  of  $125.00.  This  includes  board  and  tui- 
tion. It  has  now  one  hundred  pupils  and  ten  teachers.  Its  stand- 
ard of  instruction  is  high,  and  discipline  good.  Its  most  enthusi- 
astic advocates  are  found  among  its  pupils. 

RANDOLPH-MACON  ACADEMY 
Bedford  CitV,  Va. 

Value  of  Plant,  $100,000. 

Prepares  boys  and  young  men  for  college,  university,  or  business 
life.  The  Academy  has  been  in  successful  operation  for  seventeen 
years  and  has,  in  that  time,  trained  about  one  thousand  and  five 
hundred  students.  Its  work  has  been  endorsed  by  over  thirty  col- 
leges and  universities.  Two  hundred  and  eighty  degrees,  classical 
and  professional,  have  been  conferred  by  these  colleges  and  uni- 
versities on  students  trained  at  the  Academy  since  1895. 

The  list  of  those  applying  for  degrees,  this  year,  numbers  twenty- 
four.  The  applicants  are  to  be  found  at  such  well-known  insti- 
tutions as: 

Cornell  University,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  University  of 
Virginia,  Eandolph-Macon  College,  Virginia  Polytechnic  Institute, 
University  College  of  Medicine,  University  of  Maryland,  etc. 


116 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


Growth. 


Enrollment  of  students: 
Session 
1901-1902, 
1902-1903, 
1903-1904, 
1904-1905, 
1905-1906, 
1906-1907, 


Students 
99 
111 
141 
179 
181 
?15 

E.  Sumter  Smith,  Principal, 

Bedford  City,  Va. 


BELLEVUE  HIGH  SCHOOL 

This  school  has  won  for  several  generations  too  wide  a  reputation 
to  need  words  of  recommendation.  Its  thorough  equipment, 
natural  surroundings,  menage,  and  possibilities  for  physical,  in- 
tellectual, and  moral  advancement  cannot  be  exceeded.  Its 
Principal,  Prof.  W.  R.  Abbott,  Sr.,  is  richly  endowed  with  brilliant 
mental  capacity,  an  inspiration  which  cannot  fail  to  gain  its  reward 
in  an  ambitious  student. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  117 

FREE-SCHOOU[SYSTEM 

The  Constitution  of  Virginia  was  formed  by  the  Convention  of 
.December  3rd,  1867,  and  ratified  by  the  people  in  July,  1869.  In 
Section  III,  it  provides  by  law  a  uniform  system  of  public  free 
schools.  In  1870  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  passed  an  act  "to 
establish  and  maintain  a  uniform  system  of  Public  Free  Schools, 
as  required  by  the  Constitution." 

THE  FIRST  STATE  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION 

Hon.  Gilbert  C.  Walker,  Governor  and  ex-officio  President  of 
Board. 

Hon.  William  H.  Euffner,  Superintendent  Public  Instruction. 
Hon.  E.  T.  Daniel,  Attorney  General. 

THE  FIRST  COUNTY  ELECTORAL  BOARD 

Hon.  John  A.  Wharton,  Judge,  Bedford  County  Court. 

Hon.  Lauriston  A.  Sale,  Attorney  for  the  Commonwealth,  Bed- 
ford. 

Hon.  Sidney  L.  Dunton,  County  Superintendent  Schools,  Bed- 
ford County. 

Names  of  persons  who  have  been  appointed  superintendents  of 
public  free  schools  of  the  County  of  Bedford.  Virginia,  by  the 
State  Board  of  Education  from  the  organization  of  the  system  to 
the  present  date.  May,  1907  : 

Name  of  Supt.         Date  of  Appointment.    Constitutional  Term. 

Hon.  Sidney  L.  Dunton,         Sept.     17,    1870 

Hon.  Sidney  L.  Dunton,  Jan.  9th,  1874,  Jan.  1st,  187 o. 
Rev.  James  A.  Davis,  Feb.  26th,  1878,  July  1st,  1878. 
Capt.  James  G.  Board,  Feb.  2nd,  1882,  July  1st,  1882. 
Capt.  A.  D.  Hawkins,  1886,        July  1st,  1886. 

'i       "     "  '' 1890,        July  1st,  1890. 

"       "     "  " 1894,        July  1st,  1894. 

Mr.  John  S.  Riley,  1897,        July  1st,  1897. 

"       "     "  "  1901,        July  1st,  1901. 

Prof,  James  R.  Guy,  June  24,  1904,  appointed  Acting  Superin- 
tendent. 

Mr.  W,  R.  Abbott,  Jr.,  Oct.  5,  1904. 


118 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


1.  Liberty. 


2.  Lisbon. 


NAMES  OF  DISTRICTS  AND  TRUSTEES 

The  county  was  divided  into  seven  school  districts  and  school 
trustees  elected  as  follows: 

Col.  William  Graves,  James  S.  Woolfolk. 
W.  W.  Jopling. 
Henry  C.  Lowry. 

Maj.  Cornelius  Pate. 

Albert  W.  Ewing,  Capt.  James  H.  Buford. 

Capt.  N.  C.  Lick. 

Fielding  H.  Jeter,  Chas.  0.  Graham. 

3.  Chamblissburg.     Dr.  John  W.  Ferguson. 

Dr.  Edmond  Sale. 

Capt.  E.  C.  Cundift;  W.  D.  Ashwell. 

4.  Staunton.  Maj.  W.  F.  Graves,  J.  Whit  Johnson. 

Capt.  C.  C.  Peters,  M.  P.  Eucker. 

Ambrose  C.  Eucker,  C.  T.  Andrews. 

5.  Otter.  Thomas  Jefferson  Phelps,  A.  G.  Hillsmau 

Dr.  Granville  L.  Brown,  W.  G.  Claytor. 

Paul  Penn,  H.  D.  Poindexter. 

6.  Chuileniont.  Thomas  N.  Turpin,  William  P.  Burks. 

John  Milton  White. 

Edward  Sextus  Hutter,  N.  D.  Hawkins. 

7.  Forest.  James  W.  Harris,  F.  H.  Harris,  Capt.  E.  N. 

Wise. 
Samuel  McDaniel,  Henry  Hubbard. 

In  1872,  the  Municipal  School  District  was  formed,  including  the 
corporate  limits   of   Liberty    (now  Bedford   City)    and   a  certain 
belt  of  territory  encircling  the  corporate  limits. 
Dr.  C.  A.  Board. 
Dr.  John  W.  Sale. 

Col.  William  Graves,  Maj.  John  W.  John- 
ston. 
In  18 —  Bellevue  Ma;gisterial  and  School  District  was  formed 
from  Charlemont,  Forest  and  Otter  Districts. 
C.  M.  Gibbs. 
9.  Bellevue.  E.  E.  Talbot. 

E.  C.  Burnett. 


8.  Municipal. 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  119 

« 

NUMERICAL  CONDITION  IN  1905-6 

One  hundred  and  sixty  free  schools,  counting  each  room  as  a 

school. 

Twenty  graded  schools,  with  a  total  of  fifty-one  rooms. 

Pupils  Enrolled 

White    4,630 

Colored 1,^^03 

Total    6,333 

The  figures  for  this  year  have  not  been  compiled,  but  will 
show  an  improvement. 

BEDFORD'S  CONTRIBUTION 

Bedford  is  the  Mother  County  of  many  of  its  school  teachers. 
We  record  from  memory  some  of  their  names:  Messrs.  J.  E. 
I.azenby,  Marcellus  Traylor,  B.  W.  Shelton,  J.  C.  W.  Phelps,  J. 
A.  Douglas,  S.  H.  Dooley,  J.  P.  Scott,  W.  Lazenby,  W.  F.  Hurt, 
T.  C.  Spain.  B.  W.  Perkins,  C.  E.  Goode,  A.  L.  Miritown,  F.  E. 
Guy,  Sr.,  J.  E.  Witt,  W.  J.  Brodie,  J.  M.  Steptoe,  A.  D.  Haw- 
kins, William  Chalmers,  J.  G.  Board,  J.  W.  Wilson,  H.  D.  Poin- 
dexter,  J.  B.  Feathers,  J.  A.  Dinwiddle,  W.  L.  Coleman,  G.  W. 
Scott,  C.  H.  Wilkerson,  E.  A.  Thurman,  L.  L.  Brown,  A.  L. 
Dickerson,  Hon.  W.  A.  Goode,  P.  L.  Huddleston,  William  G. 
Claytor,  J.  D.  Lowry,  A.  B.  Claytor,  Eev.  J.  A.  Davis,  Maj.  J.  E. 
Eobertson;  Mesdames  Mollie  Claggette,  S.  L.  Danton,  Bettic 
Kirkpatrick,  F.  D.  Poindexter,  M.  B.  Eucker,  T.  Board,  C.  B. 
Tate,  Bettie  Wilkerson,  Mary  V.  Walker;  Misses  Susan  Thomp- 
kins,  Alice  M.  Board,  Annie  C.  Aunspaugh,  Mollie  B.  Grant.  Sue 
L.  Turpin,  Georgia  T.  Snead,  Edmonia  Lowry,  Fannie  T^.  Bell, 
Sallie  M.  Campbell,  Charlotte  Sale,  Eoberta  McManaway,  Bettie 
H.  Davis,  Eleanor  C.  Hubbard,  Sallie  Lindsay,  Bettie  Collins, 
Abbie  Wright,  Helen  Jones,  Annie  Jones,  Lily  M.  Bailey,  Lucy 
W.  Claytor,  Julia  Claytor,  Mary  Triddie  Stone,  Blanche  L.  Talley, 
Nannie  Burton. 


12U  HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


SUMMARY 

We  have  now  attempted  to  give  the  reader  a  general  view  of 
Bedford  County,  its  location,  boundary,  soil,  agricultural  products, 
abundant  water  supply,  altitudes,  roads,  banks,  papers,  post-office 
system,  telephone,  assessed  values,  taxes,  scenery,  climate,  hygiene, 
population,  social,  domestic,  and  industrial  life,  government,  fruits, 
vegetables,  minerals,  game,  ani^nals,  timber,  its  capacities  of  develop- 
ment as  shown  by  what  has  been  done,  etc.,  etc.  Of  course,  there  is 
much  in  the  way  of  detailed  information  upon  specific  points  that 
must  be  omitted  from  this  pamphlet.  In  the  body  of  this  pub- 
lication, no  mention  has  been  made  of  towns  or  villages,  except  the 
county  seat,  Bedford  City,  partly  because  the  villages  are  unusually 
small.  They  are,  as  a  rule,  composed  of  one  or  two  groceries  and 
general  supply  stores,  blacksmith  and  wheelwright  shops,  church, 
school  and  a  few  dwelling  houses;  some  of  these  villages  however 
are  of  considerable  dimensions,  particularly  those  lying  along  the 
line  of  the  railroad;  thus,  Montvale,  and  Forest  Depot,  are  villages 
of  quite  ambitious  pretensions.  Big  Island,  on  the  C.  &  0.  E.  E.. 
by  reason  of  its  magnificent  water  power  and  the  establishment  of 
a  large  pulp  mill,  is  beginning  to  reach  beyond  the  village  stage  of 
existence.  Moneta,  on  the  Tidewater  Eailway,  is  destined  to  be  a 
village  of  no  small  proportions  in  the  near  future.  Goode,  Law- 
yers, and  Thaxtons,  on  the  IST.  &  W.  E.  E.,  are  thriving  villages.  Of 
course,  as  the  country  becomes  more  thickly  populated  (it  has  now 
about  16  acres  to  each  inhabitant)  these  villages  will  grow  and  be- 
come the  seats  of  manufacturing  and  commercial  industries.  The 
great  number  and  size  of  the  streams  in  the  county  are  a  source  of 
considerable  water  power,  a  small  portion  of  which  has  been  utili- 
zed for  the  establishment  of  saw,  grit,  pulp,  and  flouring  mills.  In 
some  few  instances  they  are  equipped  with  modern  improved  machin  - 
ery,  but  there  are  many  thousands  of  available  ''"horse  power" 
that  could  be  obtained  for  a  mere  trifle,  and  made  the  basis  of 
some  profitable  manufacturing  enterprise.  Along  the  lines  of  the 
three  railroads,  C.  &  0.,  N.  &  W.  and  Tidewater,  the  cheapness  of 
the  steam  coal,  the  nearness  of  the  Pocahontas  and  West  Virginia 


BEDFORD    COUNTY,    VA.  121 

coal  fields,  and  the  abundance  of  raw  material,  iron,  lumber,  asbes- 
tos, soapstone,  feldspar,  paint,  mica,  etc.,  offer  special  inducements 
to  manufactories.  Coal  will  be  delivered  at  any  point  upon  these 
railroads  within  the  county  limits,  at  a  low  rate  per  ton;  run-of- 
mine  in  car-load  lots.  After  selecting  the  location,  the  rate  can  be 
obtained  and  comparisons  with  other  points  made.  The  disposi- 
tion of  the  towns  and  villages  is  to  afford  every  encouragement  to 
newcomers  and  especially  to  such  as  come  for  the  purpose  of  es- 
tablishing manufactories.  The  proof  of  the  merits  of  Bedford  as 
a  location  for  manufactures,  is  the  success  of  those  already  estab- 
lished. 


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