The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-10-14
Llpom the National lntelligencer.
MOUNT
Its History. Has ProprictOrs. Its
Relies. Hts "Reminiscences. and
ATS Present Condition.

ks%tlt6. HIS "Reminiscences. and
ATS Present Condition.
There has probably never been so great
q throng Of visitors to the national shrine
in the history of the country as at the
present time. The fine steamer running
regularly thither from this city is largely
patronind, while multitudes are daily go
ing there by land ~conveyances. The
throng of soldiers thither is especially
very numerous. The distance from Wash
ington is some fifteen miles, about nine
below Alexandria.
At the death Of General Washington,
in 1899, the Mount Vernon estate com
prised several thousand acres in a solid
body, extending many miles on the Poto-
mae river, \ large part of it was under
tillage. 1t was divided into five farms.
each cultivated by its own negroes with
an overseer. and the whole under a gen
eral superintendent, and all under the
careful inspection Of the great chief him
self. His own negroes numbered one
hundred and twenty his wife's were rs
many more. Wheat, corn and tobacco
were the chief products of the estate, to
baeco being. however, much less quilt
waited in the latter years Of his life than
in earlier times. Upon the estate there
was-a fine two-stGry corn and hour mill,
THE remnants Of which are still visible on
Doeue Greek, up which ilatboats came
alongside the mill. The water to carry
the mill was brought in a race some mile
and 4 half from a tumbling dam up
Dogue Run. The old mill house is still
in good condition. and is occupied by Il
eoloYed family. Near this mill was also
his diStillery. There was also 4 brick
yard, I carpenter establishment, black
smith shop, the estate forming, in fact. a
sort Of a village.
Originally the Mount Vernon estate
consisted Of oue-half Of FIVE thousand
acres assigned to W~ashington's great
grandfather, who, in conjunction with
Nicholas Spencer, patented it from Lord
E%ulpepper in 1870. In the division Of
his estate the father of Washington as
signed this tract to his elder brother Law
Irenec. who came here and erected the
mansion in 1T43, naming it in honor of
Admiral Vernon. under whom he served
as Captain in Il colonial regiment. in the
West Indies. in 1T40. Lawrence died in
1852, leaving a wife, the daughter of Sir
William Fairfax, of Belyoir. and one
chill-a daughter; and ON the demise OF
this daughter without issue, IS soon hap
Ipened. the estate fell to George. who had
been much IN inmate of the family.
In 1888. General Washington married
Martha Gusts, (ace Dandridge), then re-
siding on her estate at the White House.
with her two children, and after remain
ing at that place some three months. took
up his residence at Mount Vernon. She
brought him in her own right mere thar
4 hundred thousand dollars. They were
tie same age, - years, at their marriage
In his will, Washington divided the
! estate into three parts, The mansion
four thousand acres, was left to his
nephew. Bushrod Washington, an Asso
ciate Justice Of the United States Supreme
, Court. At the death of Mrs. Washington
! in 1891, Judge Washington became the
proprietor of Mount Vernon, and eontin
; ued there ill his death in 1920. Two o.
the old servants still on the estate cam
t there with him, belonging to his wife
Anna, daughter of Thomas Blackburn
1.-Two of General Washington's servant.
still survive, also. residing some tire,
| miles from Mount Vernon. Judge Wash
%incton, having no children, left fhe es
tate to his nephew, John A. Washington
from whom the Ladies' Mount Vernon
g Association purchased the two hundred
, acres, upon which are the mansion anG
| tomb. for 500, 900. Two thousand acre.
4 were willed by Washington to two othe-
e members of the Washington family. ant
the residue, upwards of 1000 acres, in
4 Guiding the fine Woodlawn estate. wa
r given to Maj. Lawrence Lewis, a favorit,
0 nephew, whose wife was the beautiful
+ and cultivated Nelly Gusts, granchild t,
Q Mrs. Washington, and the adopted daugh
Ter of General Washington.
Major Lewis erected a splendid man
r sion at " oodlawn, in 1906, at a cost o
4 $4,000. Major Lewis, whose mother
Betty Washington, was the sister of tn,
: great chief. died at Arlington in 1871
Q and his wife died in 1852. The remain
. of both. with those of a daughter, tn
Y wife of Charles N. Conrad, Fillmore
{ War Secretary, being deposited in tn
e Mount Vernon vault. Soon after th
d death of Major Lewis, the Woodlawn es
tate was sold by his only son, Lorenzo, t
a colony of Quakers from New jersey
e who still retain much of it, divided int
farms. The Woodlawn mansion, with
: splendid farm of 500 acres surrounding
t it. belongs to John Mason, Esq, VIII
came there from New Hampshire in 1856
The mansion is Of brick, with slate ROOT
Q and lofty pillars fronting the river on
commanding site looking down upon tn
e whole Mount Vernon estate. Lorenz
II Lewis died some years ago in Clark coun
e ty. aud the other daughter, the wife {
Mr.. Butler, is living in Mississippi.
d John A. Washington went to Fauquie
n county with his family in 1850, and pun
y chased a farm known as Wareland. Iii
wife died suddenly soon after, and it
k well known that he fell, as Colonel of
rebel regiment, early in 1861, leaving
family Of seven children, the youngeS
two being little boys, and the only NAL
children ever born at tho Mount Yerno
v mansion. There are some one thousan
acres of the Mount Vernon estate, b.
longing to these orphan children, lyin
in close proximity to the Mount Verno
mansion.
The Mount Vernon estate was prob'
ID bly, never under a finer state Of Guilty.;
ton than it is at the present time. Th
/, farmers have been shipping manure !
!, large quantities from the city this season
and piling it at their landings on tn
Of river for future use. At the preser
ID time there are 1000 government mule
De grazing upon different farms in that Sc,
le ton. These mules are separated mi
squads of FIVE hundred, with fifteen noun
l. ann4rol thnm nrn nut into