Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-07
A Great Place and Great Men.

Somebody has written letter to the Louis
vile Courier-J ournal, in which the county Of
Prince Edward is thus held up to the world for
admiration
'Farmville is now the county seat of Prince
Edward, remarkable county. Containing a
population all told of not more than ten or
twelve thousand souls, black and white, it has
produced a most extraordinary number OF great
men.
Yonder at "Longwood, mile or two away,
General Joseph L. Johnston was born On
the other side of the river, at the residence of
Mrs. Richard Dalby, is the scene of Sterling
Prices nativity Governor Henry Watkins
Allen, of Louisiana, was horn in this county
So was General Coffee, famous Indian fighter
in the Florida war. Governor Bibb, of Keu-
lucky, was born on Miller's creek few miles
from this town. Governor r. Watkins lggon
drew his first breath in Prince Edward. Judge
Almond of the Supreme Court of California,
nhcn that State was a territory, was Graded in
Prince Edward. DR.. Moses D. Hogc, the
eminent Presbyterian divine Drinkard of the
Richmond Dispatch, is native of Prince Ed
ward Judge Frank P. Wood, of Texas, and
r. w, Hughes. by odds the strongest man the
Radicals can claim in Virginia, we're born here.
So were Stanhope and Cabe Flourney Judge
",
Vcnable, chairman of the Faculty Of the Uni
vcrsity Of Virginia and Stephen Southall,
law professor at the same institution. Nor
must forget DR.. Mettaur, famous physician
known all through the South, now in full
practice at the old courthouse, albeit he is full
ly eighty years old Samuel G.. Anderson, a
man of mark in his day Captain Henry Fl.
Watkins an orator equal almost to Watkins
Leigh Branch Worsham, for sixty years the
model of a Virginia county clerk ; and Colonel
Jack Thornton: one of the brightest men IN the
State, cut down in the prime OF lite IN the late
war, must also be mentioned. Here, too, in
Prince Edward, first saw the light great many
of that sturdy race of men, strong in mind,
make name for themselves wherever they
have settled. | mean the Venables race SO
noted for talents, and high character that |
think the change ofan NJ for Y should be made
in recognition of their force They should be
called not Vcnable but Men-able.
Awaiting myselfo of the opportunity, | went
over aud spent night at college. The way is
marked by an utter absence of fences, which
gives to the scenery an air of desoation The
fence law explains this but the houses you
pass are forlorn enough. The four tall chin
neys ofthe late Henry E. Watkins 8 residence
are all that remain of that once commodlous
and hospitable Virginia home. The, college,
however, is fourishing, and under the gu9ld-
ancc Of President j. NJ ?. Atkinson; brother
of Bishop Atkinson, of North Carolina, bids
fair to resume its ancient prestige. The other
professors are Colonel Delaware Kemper (of ar
tillery fame, and enough like General Beaure-,
gard to be his brother), who has the chair OF
mathematics; Walter Blair that of Latin and
modern languages; L. i. Holiday, chemistry
and natural science; and Addison Hoge,.
nephew of DR.. Moses Hoge, professor of
Greek. Eighty-fve students have already ma
circulated, and more are expected. Governor
Stevenson is graduate, believe, Of Hamp-
den Sydney, and so was President William
Henry Harrison. Governor Stevenson's old
friend N. F. Watkins is now judge OF Prince
Edward and Appomattox counties
That acknowledgements institution, Union
Theological Seminary, opens the current ses-
sion with sixty students. DR.. K. Ia. Dabney,
the friend and biographer of Stonewall Jack
son is at the head. The other professors are
DR.. Henry c. Alexander of the celebrated
Princeton, family, man of good learning and
as delightful in society as he is learned DR.: B.
Nj. Smith, and DR.. Thomas r. Peck. The
seminary looks and, ] believe really is more
prosperous than it ever was before.