Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-28
Death of wiIIoughby Newton.

On the morning of the 23rd instant, at FIVE
minutes before S o clock. Willoughby Newton
died at his residence, Linden, in the county OF
Westmoreland, iu the seveuty-second year of
bis life.
Mr. Newton WAS born in December 1902 at
Lee Hail in the county of Westmoreland. lbs
father bore the same name, was gentleman OF
high standing, AMI represented that county LOT
saSeral wears in the House of Delegates, His
mother, at the time of her marriage with MIR.
Newton, was the widow OF Richard Lee,I COM
monty called Esquire Lee, of Lee Hall hear
relation of Richard Henry Lee, and of General
Henry Lee, of Stratford. Mrs. NeWton's mai
den name was Sally Poythress. She was a
ter. Prince George, near Petersburg, and grand
daughter Of Richard Bland, Of Jordans Point,
in that county one of the earliest and greatest
indicators Of the rights of the Colonies.
At an esrly age Mr.. Newton was sent to
school at Elizabethtown, n. j under tho care
of the late distinguished Dr. john augustus
law. who married Mr.. Newton's half-sister
I,ettice Lee On his return to Virginia, Mr..
Newton was sent to William aud Mary College,
| of which Dr. Smith had in the meanwhile been
made president, where he was graduated, and
| then commenced the practice OF law.
| In 1925 Mr.. Newton was elected to the louise
of Delegates, and married Miss Elizabeth Holt
| of Williamsburg. She died within year, leav
ing son who did not long survive her. He
continued to serve in the House of Delegates
several years, and in 1929 was married to Mary
| Hon William Brockenbrough OF the Court OF
Appeals A large family was the fruit of this
| marriage After serving for several years more
in the House of Delegates he retired from puohee
| lie and devoted himself to the cultivation and
Improvement of his large landed estate In this
| - hr1 ;taroily ShOwn6 the wisdom OF the
remark that she that makes three blades OF
grass to grow where only one grew before Was
| worth the whole race of politicians put togeth-
err" The writer we'll knows that when he first
| saw it. 1927, the region roundabout MIR. New
| toms birth place and residence was one OF the
| most impoverished and wretchedly cultivated in
| Virginis He lived to see ut the time O the
breaking out of the late war; in the place of this
poor, neglected and unsghtly district, farms
nIeatly enclosed, highly improved, and produc;
| ing crops Of wheat, corn and clover that would
almost vie with those of the most favored regions
of the State 1t is but justice to say that this
charming change was due to the efforts and ex.
annie of Mr.. Newton. Agriculture was his con.
slant theme-with pen and speech-and above
these, in unweared and industrious practical
example and generous assistance to all worthy
followers in his march of Improvement he led
| the way.
In lS4S the Whig; party nominssed Mr. New New
ton for Congress. He was elected over his com
petitor, the Hon r. NJ. T. Hunter. The course
of Mr.. Newton, and especially his efforts IN Ia
history of those days At tue election in l841
he was defe .ted by Mr.. Hunter, and when the
| latter was elected to the Senate OF the United
States he was again defeated by, the present
General r. l.. T. Beale.- From that time TIL
the war he renamed at home, enthusiastically
employed in his fsvorite pursuit of farmer, and
contributor, from his varied reading and enlight.
| ened experience, to agricultural papers He was
among the founders of the State Society, and
rose to ue its president To the great body OF
farmers and planters of Virginia his name is ia
| mlar rs household word and we need say no
more than this on this subject
! Mr. Newton was ever d true State rights man.
Every faculty Of his was ardently devoted to the
| interests of The South; and when the hour came
| for men to rise up in defence of her rights and
interests, he threw the whole weight of his tai
! ents and energies into the scales, and staked his
all upon the issue. His patriotic zeal was warm
" seconded by his wife, lady who deserves to
rank with roblest Roman matrons She gave
ner not unwilling sons to the army, and employ
| ed herself in the most active labors to proyId
comforts and food and clothing for their gallant
comrades Her gallant sons sought no bomb,
proof places" With sabre or musket in hand
thew were yer at ''the front" William Brock
enbrough Newton sealed with his life's blood
his devotion to his country; Willoughby New
m lost leg at the great ohe Avn Si
!
vate in the Fortieth Virg mia regiment, still con
tinued to serve US its surgeon.
The dark day Of ruin came at last. Our heroic
struggle over, nothing was left us save q hun
dred battle fields crowded with the graves of our
heroes Princely fortunes were swept away,
| and their former owners sat among the ruins.
THANH God many of them live to show us ex-
am ples of undlsmayed courage and dignihed res,
| guation. Of Mr.. Newton 1t may well be said
''impavidum ferient ruinn." He maintained in
his disabled condition I'll that cheerful spirit,
calm philosophy and ardent desire to be useful
in his day and generation, which has character,
| izad him through his life. Ruined in temporal
goods-bearing the weight of three score years
and ten-aflicted for near two years with dis
tressng disease he sat surrounded by his wife
and children, and childrens children cheerful,
happy, and resigned. Thus this good and well.
known citizen passed sway.-Rich Dispatch.