The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-19
Amelia County-Mica-Fruit.
From our Travelling Correspondence
AMELIA COURTHOUSE, I
Nav 10, 1873. ]

MANY fine fields of wheat, which look all
the more promising for the recent rains.
This county was formed out of Prince
George in 1874, and the first court was or
gauized in 1875. 1t is about fifty miles
long, with mean breadth of about fifteen
miles; it is undulating, and watered by
the Appomattox river and branches OF the
Nottoway. The lands are generally fer
tile, and portions of them much worn and
exhausted. There are many good farms
for sale at very low figures, and which of
fer attractive inducements to industrious
settlers. 1t occupies healthy locality,
and contains many clear streams of pure
water. Corn, wheat, tobacco, and fruit
do we'll here; but there is too little atten-
ton given to fruit.
An additional incentive to our farmers,
for increased attention to grape growing,
may be found in the fact, that the crop in
France begins to fail, and has been largely
injured the past season, as is shown in the
following paragraph from the New York
Express:
1.-THE wine crop is completely destroyed
by frost. The estimated loss in the Gil
ronde is forty million francs. kilograms
from the Bordeaux and Burgundy wine dis
tricts announce that most OF the vines were
frozen during the recent cold snap. The
prospects of the champagne vintage are
also seriously imperilled."
1t is not unlikely, that, ere long, the ta-
bles may be turned, and our country be
enabled to furnish wine for Europe, as that
country has so long been dong for us.
The country is looking very fresh and
fine, and the forests almost in full foliage,
by the new sunshine.
The days of willow whistles have come,
the gladdest of all the year; and the
squawl< of the timber twig is heard in the
streets, with small boy attached. And
the little school girls, thinking more of
lessons in birds, blossoms, and boys,
are out gathering the yellow-lipped butter
cups and blue violets or '.jonny jump
ups ;" with the first they test whether
they have any sweethearts; and with the
latter, prove who he is; they put the yell
low buttercups near their cheeks and chins,
and il the reflection is crimson or pink,
they surely have little lover, thinking of
them somewhere then, they put the blue
"ionny iump-upsO to their cheeks, and if
it reflects yellow, then, surely they are
forsaken and have lost their sweethearts;
then they link the little fellows heads to-
gether, give them pull, and the one that
don't break is sure to stick to the girl who
holds it.
From the politeness of Mr.. E. II. Cole
man. | was able to get useful information
in regard to affairs in this county from the
county records.
The late census shows the population of
Amelia county to be, of natives, 9,673,
and foreign born 205; total, 9,S7S; and yet
- IL, ,>fo thapo 10 M ann
tenant in the jail One of the assessors in
formed me that they have completed the
new assessment, and made a deduction on
the old of about thirty-two per cent. The
usual school and church privileges are en-
.joyed throughout the county, aud it has the
usual county buildings.
There is a fine mica mine being worked
near the centre of the county, which
affords profitable results. Amelia Sulphur
Springs are about five miles from the
county seat, and possess much virtue.
In looking over the early records of the
county find the first session of the county
court was held 9th May, 1875.
The justices were Booker, Clarke, and
Irby; Cobbs was the clerk, and Burton
the sheriff, commissioned by'John Carter,
the colonial secretary for the King.
Some interesting incidents are CLEANED
from the early proceedings. The grand jury
presented L. Washington and others
''for not coming to church )" John Harris
and others, ''lor swearing and getting
drunk )" David Lyles, ''lor selling rum of
Sundays" Edmund Franklin for commit
ting adultery.
1t seems the Appomattox got on ram
page with terrible flood in the fall of that
year, and in consequence OF 1.-THE hard
ships and inconvenience suffered by the
people, they petitioned that boat or other
means be provided for their escape )" and
it was ordered, that gentlemen Booker and
Cobbs consult with gentlemen from Henrico
as to the proper steps to be taken for re-
liefn
In those days wolves appear to have
been troublesome, and premiums were
offered for their destruction: "For young
VOLS, so lbs. tobacco; for old VOLTS, lG0 lbs
tobacco" To Chas. Iby and seven
others, for one old wolf each, the above was
paid and to VIM. Moses, ''for five young
wolfs, 400 lbs were paid" In 1877, Ed.
Booker did something in that business, as
he was 'paid $40 lbs tobacco for five old,
and two young wolfs."
Salaries were paid in tobacco ; S. Cobbs,
county clerk received yearly 1,040 lbs.
John Burton, sheriff, received the same.
John Clay, constable, received yearly
100 lbs. @. Clancy, for guarding prisoner
two days, received 30 lbs tobacco; Robt
Boiling, gent, received, for running the
line between Prince George and Amelia
counties, ,l06 Tbs tobacco.
Among the distinguished heroes of the
revolution for independence, we learn from
Howe, who were citizens Of this county were
the Archers, the Egglestons, some of the
Lees, and the Giles. Later, the first quar-
ter Of the present century, w. Branch
Giles was one of the foremost men OF Vir-
ginia, having been governor and United
States senator.
Some thirty years ago, there was in this
county q celebrated negro preacher, known
as Uncle Jack. who possessed much ability
and shfewdness, and exercised large in
huence over the colored people, and was
greatly respected by the whites. He died
at the advanced age of nearly one hundred
years.
The oaks and other forest trees in this
county are very fine and branching, while
the hillsides and valleys teen with great
variety Of beautiful flowers, and Towering
shrubs-the blooming ash among others,
very attractive.
Amelia Courthouse the county seat, is
a'pretty little rural village, BEAUTIFULLY and
handsomely located near the centre of the
county, on the Richmond and Danville rail-
l. 4. rnnff roN,