Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-07
/. TERMS OF ADVERTISING:
] The Valley Towns.

The Valley Towns @ ..
In 1888, two cabins were erected near the
run in Winchester. rz Tradition relates that
Germans built them. In 1852, thetown was es-
tablished by act Of Legislature, Col, James
Woodman, the founder and not, Lord Fairfax
as IS generally believed. Robert Rutherford,
ESQ. ,Iopened the first store. There was soon
mixed population Of Germans, Irish, and
few English aud Scotch. 1t has now about
5000 ooinhabitants and is fourishing, after be-;
ihg the battle ground, for all the wars.
To November, 176l, ,Strasburg was established
BY law. It vas called .Storer's Town in ancient
times, and was laid out by Peter Storer. 1t
was settled by Germans. 1t now has: about
6OOinhabitants and is situated on the Shenan
doah river and Manassas Gap Railroad " )"
Woodstock, the county seat Of Shenandoah,
was established by law in March, l76l. Lit
then belonged to Frederick county. Jacob
Miller laid of 1900, acres of land, 96 Of which
were divided into 5one-half acre lots, making
1872 building lots-the remainder into streets
and five acre 'Sout lots" Itwas settled by Ger
MANS and was laid out more extensively than
most Of our Valley towns. 1t now numbers
about 1900 inhabitants, and is on the Manas-
sas Gap Railroad.
Martinsburg, Berkeley county, was estab
ishedl by law, in October, l778. Adam Ste
phen, ESQ., laid off $50 acres of land for it and
called it after Col. T. B. Martin. It is on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and has 1000 in
habitants now. 80 s.as. ],
Harrisonburg, Rockingham county, was es.
tablished in 1850. Mr.. Thomas Harrison had
/ lo{TS 10 ;o&o loto
action was confirmed by the Legislature. 1t
own hook and has been known as the Free
town of Harrisonbure'' ever since. 1t was
settled by Germans and Irish. 1t is situated
25 miles from Staunton, is the terminus OF the
Manassas Gap railroad, and has about $500 in-
habitants =. It is fourishing and growing
town. 80, l.."s- I. =, ,., il
= Staunton is the county seat of Augusta, was
principally settled by Irish, and was incorpora-
ted in November, 1761. 1t is as good as 1t IS
old; has about 5000 inhabitants, and 1T IS
growing fast. ,.-:a =. r. 1@ ~
Charlestown, Jefferson county, West Va,
was established in October, 1856. 1t was laid
off by Col. Charles Washington, brother OF
Gen George Washington, on so acres OF his
own land. It was named after the Christian
name of its original proprietor. 1t is situated
on the Wa P. r. f., and has about thirteen
hundred inhabitants
In October, 1894, Darkesville, Berkeley
county, and Keizletown, Rockingham county,
small villages still, were establish
Front Royal, then in Frederick county, was
established in 1883, upon so acres of the pro
perty Of Solomon Vanmater and II others. :
It is now the county seat Of Warren county,
It has about 500 inhabitants. 4-.s..a
Pattonsburg and CroWsvllle, Botetourt coun-
ty, were established In 17S8. They have re-
NAMED 80 ever, since. -; ~ at ~ ~
In l772, Fincastle, county seat OF Botetourt
county, was established. Israel Christian made
q present of 40 acres of land to the county, to
have town established there. The histories
give no information respecting its progress
since. It numbers about 800 inhabitants, and
is improving.
In he.month of October, l777,. says the
History of the Valley Lexington, in the
county Of Rockbridge, was established. Az
extract from the law, says: ''And be it further
enacted, that at Q place which shall be appoint.
ed for holding courts in the said county OF
Rockbridge, there shall be laid off town, to
be called Lexington, thirteen hundred teet IN
length, and nine hundred in width. In .
foot note he adds: .
..This was truly upon small scale. 'The
name of the town was fixed by law, before the
town was laid out. Lexington is IS miles
from Staunton. it is the terminus OF the North
River Canal contains about 1000 inhabitants,
Washington College, Gen. Lee, and Va. Mill
tary Institute. zgH l-. atea.&a
Shepherdstowu, Jefferson county, on the
Potomac, was established in 1852. 1t was
once called Mecklenburg, and it is IL miles
above Harper's Ferry. It was laid offby Capt
Thomas Shepherd, and was first settled by
German mechanics. 1t is remarkable as being
the place where the first steam boat was con-
structed.. In %17S8, James Ramsey built a
boat there, which was propelled by steam
against brisk current. Some Of the remnants
Of the machinery are still in the towo: o:-Shep-
herdstown, is now The county seat OF efferson,
so-called. The population is about 900.
There are many Valley towns not noticed IN
theabove, Which we make up from kercheVal
history OF the Valley and our own Observation
durlugt Le war Valley pnganaan.
TALKING FINE.-Ludicrous plumbers some:
times occurin cases where ignorant persons at
tempt the use of language about the meaning
Of which they know nothing: 49,
Not long since, while travelling from Pitts
burg to Cincinnati, to rather verdant specimens
of the female sex came on board the boat al
one of the landings, who for the sake of dis
tinction we will call Mary and Jane.
Now Mary had her eyetooth cut, or, IN 9th
or words, was acquainted with the rules anc
regulations which govern genteel society; Jane
tho yoproor hsd novor ,o;vod in society to any