Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-01-02

it to the community as q place of wor-
ship; and Mr.. Mines erected the beauti-
full little parsonage and gave it to the
"shepherd of the flock" He also erect
ed an edifice for the use of the commun-
ity as public school. The works are
situated twenty-five miles from Har-
risonburg, and Immediately on the line
of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, now
in course of construction. The mansion
houses, church and parsonage are on an
elevated position-one of great natural
beauty-in a lovely valley, within full
view of the Massanutten and Blue Ridge
Mountains, and the silvery Shenandoah
meandering lazlly by through fields of
living green. The climate can hardly
be surpassed for salubrity, and it would
be difficult to find more delightful spot
for the abode of civilized, refined,
religious and industrious population, of
which the Shenandoah Iron, Lumber
and Manufacturing Company las now
known by charter of the Legislature of
Virginia. with Mr.. Mines at its head,
is the nucleus of such town or city in
the not distant future.
Since his residence In Virginia he has
had conferred upon him, by his fellow
citizens, places of trust. honor and re-
sponsibility but only in one instance
has he yielded, and then against fixed
resolution never 70 accept political Of
flee, as it was entirely at variance with
his business tenets. He was solicited,
in 1868, to become candidate for Con-
gress, which he positively declined.
But vain are the wishes of man! Mr..
Mines was suddenly aroused from his
jslumhers one morning, before day break
with the information that squad OF
fhorsemen were at the door, and want
4 ed to see him." The committee Of sew
en- horsemen appointed by the conven'
ton held the same day at Harrisonbure
rode the best part of the night to tender
him the nomination OF the Sixth Con-
gressional District. He declined it agair
for some older citizen: but they WOULD
take no refusal, saying: "We are going
to run you, anyhow if you are defeated
the responsibility of it will rest upor
your own head"
He was elected by an overwhelming
majority to the Forty-first Congress
and, while member of it, served will
ability on the Finance Committee. A
the end of ia.s term he declined re.elec
ton.
He is President of the Shenandoah
! cl1Cy INdlllOdu3 uOW III AoO Va OOAA
struction, and chartered to ruin from
: Shepherdstown on the Potomac River
Jefferson county, Virginia, to Knoxville
Il in East Tennessee. He is also Presiden
of the Valley Railroad, naw operated
from Harrisonburg to StauntOn, Virgin
:, ia; and Director of the First Nationa
ID Bank OF Harrisonburg. Va.
For a year OF two past the Valley Rail
J. road was under lease to the Ealtimor
and Ohio Railroad Company, but owinI
i. to some disagreement between the direc
- tors of the latter and the stockholders Q
), the former, everything was brought T.
" stand-still. The B. & o. Co. removed
# all their engines, passenger coaches
freight cars, etc., not leaving one sin
gle vestige behind" of their wealth an
10 glory. This was great inconvenienc
to the good people of the renowned Val
- ley of Virginia, and from the 1st of Ma
to the LIST of July it SO remained.
:. Mr.. Mines, seeing tine straits in Whic
: his neighbors of the Valley were, wen
] and leased the railroad, and in ten day
l. after the legal papers were signed, h
had the road stocked with the necessar
engines, passenger-cOaches, freight cars
etc, and trains merrily running on tn
n road which, q few days before, was S
r. OppresSlVeiy stilt ~ Iull, WaSteiui !ui'
!. ness. The road Is still opsrated by hir
r and one or two other enterprising, pnl
TT lic-spirited gentlemen.
,r 1t is unnecessary to say that Mr.. Milne
,r is q very popular gentleman and ma
Is of sterling worth.
n In the social circle, Mr.. Mines is plat
n and unassuming in manner, althoug
he lives in baronial splendorin the ios
e, Iy Shenandoah Valley, and is ''monarc
l. of all he surveys" for miles around hin
e, In personal appearance he is stoutly an
d compactly built, and looks as if he too
n the world and its ways easily, determir
l. ed to make the most of it, and do all tt
le good he can while in it; with an ey
always to the bright size, and lookin
" beyond the black cloud for the siiv'
lie lining.
d His hospitality is proverbial; he.
l. genial and generous, with urbane, viii
l. ming manners i. fond of society, and
g. never SO happy as when hs has hous
l. full of company. With an eye for tn
1T beautiful In nature, and heart full I
n love for mankind, he is truly success
lie in life, and, withal, an exemplary Chris
la t;an gentleman.