Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-10-30
Gen. WashingtOn's First Visit to
Madison

Madison.
| A correspondent of the Gordonsville
s'Gazette, - writing from Rapidan, in Mad
ison county, gives the following interest.
ing account of Gen. Washington's first
visit to that place:
The following. authentic story of Gen
Washington s visit to Madison county has
been handed down from father to son for
several generations. The story is that
Gen. Washington was returning from a
visit to his lands on the Kanawha, and
crossed the Blue Ridge at Swift Run Gap,
which was then but a bride path, on
J horseback, accompanied by his body-ser-
want. There being few or no hotels on
the route, he made Inquiries previous to
reaching the county as to where ne could
get accommodation in private families.
He was directed first to Billy Kirtley's,
famliarly known as ''Shakehead' Billy,
who then lived near what is now known as
Gen. Banks mill. He was directed also
| to WolftoWn, to Capt. E. Z. Gaiu's. lit
I tie past Wolftown, and to Mr.. Eary's,
afterwards the residence Of Capt. Joe
| Early. Upon Gen. Washington IS approach
ing Mr. Kirtley's house his servant stopped
at the spring to drink, wiltshire General
rode up and asked Mr.. Kiftley if he would
take in traveller for the night. mo"
said he grufiy, ''go on to the doggery,"
meaning Woftown. When first hearing
the story, wondered why he spoke thus
of our sweet little town, but upon inquiry
learned that in that day all groggeries
were thus denomlnated. General
W. rode on, and his servant coming up
Mr. Kirtley asked him the name Of the
gentleman, and was thunderstruck to hear
it was Gen. Washington. He jumped
from his seat and halloed, ''Come back,
sir, come back, you can STAY" but the
General coolly replied, 81 will go on to
the doggery." Tradition says ''Shake-
head'' never afterwards refused to take
in traveller, fearing he might there
by turn off ''an angel unawares." The
General passed the ''doggery'' without
hating and Capt. Gains house being con-
cealed by the forest, he unintentionaly
passed it, and had to go to Mr.. Early's TWO
or three miles further. On reaching the
house he was met by Mr. Early's fair young
daughter, a lovely girl Of II or 13 summers.
Gen. W. asked for her father and told her
he wished, if convenient, to spend the
night, being very weary with long jour
ney. She replied, my father is sick, but
you are most welcome, and [ will do all [
can to make you comfortable and my father
will ba glad to entertain you ALSO" The
servant arriving soon after and giving his
masters name, the young girl WAS over
joyed at the opportunity Of entertaining
snck beloved and honorable guest. Her
amiability and kind hospitality so won upon
the General that at parting he gave her a
gold coin, not as a compensation, but as a
keepsake, having nothing at hand more
suitable. She had pin attached to it and
ever wore it as a breast pin, and it has re-
manned in the family as a heirloom, de-
scending from mother to daughter for
part Of my story and would fain draw a
veil over her tragic end, but, as a faithful
chronicler of events, il must be told though
nay very pen recolls at the tale of horr or.
She grew up to be all that was fascinating
and lovely in person aud character, and was
finally wooed and won by one of an ancient
and honorable family, and they removed to
the State of Kentucky. 1t is curious to
observe the vicissitudes of h imam life as eX-
emplified in the history of this lovely young
girl once so happy and idolized. In a few
years the cheeks Of her relatives were
blanched by the news that her husband
had choked her to death with silk stock
ing. And the criminal record of Ken
lucky will show that he was tried, con-
demned, and hung for the foul murder. If
even in this world there is dreadful retri-
button for those who fail to keep the mar
riage VOW ito love and cherish,' how
fearful will it be in that which is to ONE.