Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-12-06
An Augusta County Sale.

EIGHT HUNDRED PERSONS PRESENT
THE LARGEST EVER SEEN IN TIL
COUNTY-vALUABLE PERSONAL PROP
ERTY CHANGING HANDS-WnO BOUGHT
IT AND WHAT THEY PAID.
SC, &C., sc.
Eight hundred farmers of Augusta
county were standing about in the colo
wind at Col. A. w. Harman's farm last
Tuesday morning. The accumulations OF
an energetic farmer for twenty seven years
were offered for their inspection and pur
chase, from a steam engine down to &
skillet. 1t was the public sale of probably
the largest amount of personal property
ever offered at one time in Augusta county
ard was really an interesting event in its
history. Coming in sight of the house one
would involuntarily exclaim, What a
quantity of stuff is there!'' Here were the
accumulations Of twenty seven years by
one OF the largest and most enterprising
farmers of Augusta upon an elegant plan
tatiOn of 600 acres, which has scarcely its
equal in the county. It has now passed
into the hands Of Mr. Walter S. Gurnee,
of New York, and the late proprietor,
having disposed of his personality, will in
few weeks remove with his family to
Kansas.
The grounds in front of the house were
covered with machinery and agricultural
implements, am ongswhich were a large
steam engine, almost new, with steam up
and in operation, threshing machine,
saw mill, reapers and mowers. drills, der
ricks. farming implements, cider mills,
kettles and heaps of iron chains, ropes &c.,
all arranged in lots and numbered from
up. Along the side of the lane around the
house was ranged long row of plows from
one horse cultivators to heavy four horse
draught OF every style and variety, from
those in use twenty five years ago to the
latest and most improved patterns, andithe
surrounding fences were hung thick with
pillow, wagon, carriage and buggy harness.
In the meadow below the house were two
long rows of wagons, carts, a carriage,
buggy and spring wagon. The large barn
was full of grain and forage and the stalls
in the stone basement below, crowded with
horses and blooded cattle. In the field
above the house were feeding number Of
fine, well kept mich COWS, blooded heifers,
a number of colts, stock cattle and flock
of Cotswold sheep, while near by was
pen of hogs that would make Cincinnati
pork dealer involuntarily whet his knife
for the slaughter, and a flock of bronze
turkeys, any one of which would grace a
Christmas dinner. In the house and kitchen
were innumerable articles Of furniture.
carpeting, mating, bedding, &C., and
beautiful case filled with a choice selection
of books, which spoke well for the literary
taste of the proprietor.
AS early as eight O'Clock the crowd CON-
menced to gather and from that hour un-
til one, a continuous stream of horsemen
and vehicles of every description poured in
on every road approaching the place until
seven or eight hundred persons were on the
grounds.
At 10 O'Clock Mr.. E. M. Cushing. the
auctloneer, announced to the crowd the
sale would begin and though working with
a dispatch and energy that few can ex-
Gel, with the aid of his experienced assis-
tants, when the sun set his work was but
half done. The property in and around
the house had changed hands. Without
mentioning many smaller but by no means
insignificant sales, the fine IL horse Gaar
d Scott engine had been knocked down to
Mr.. VIM. Norman at 1906; the Aultman
separator, at $3.50, and tie Gaar & Scott
saw mill. with So inch saw, at $3.50 to
the same gentleman The stock. wagons
and other vehicles, harness, plows, &c.
had not been touched. Property to the
amount of about So, 500 had been sold, and
the auctioneer announced to the patient
crowd, that had followed him to and fro
through the chilly day, that the sale would
be resumed at an early hour the next
morning.
While the crowd present ON the first day
of the sale was remarkable on account of
its numbers, being equal to that Of an
average court day gathering, it was even
more marked, as representing the worth
and respectability of Augusta county, be-
sides which there were many substantial
gentleman present from the adjoining
counties.
THE SECOND DAY.
A crowd of about $50 gathered early and
the sale went on. Messrs. Gushing & Son
were closely engaged all day, when the
senior got winded the ready junior came
in with new breath and the sale came to
a close about O'Clock.
The prices got for stock were very good.
Horses ranged from $50 to $135, of these
Jas. Bumgardners il. bought fine Var
mare for $135, VIM. A. Burnett pretty
bay mare for 800 and Levi SEafer a good
brown horse at $97.
The mich cows averaged about $50 rang
ing from $50 to ST. so. A fine young heif-
er was knocked out to VIM. Rock at $35,
a COW to VIM. H. Peyto at SAL, one to P.
B. Sublett at $56, one to Mis-. Fannie Har-
man at $50, one to DR.. Ham Fultz at s62,
fine cow and calf to Ed. Burke at $67 and
another to r. s. McCorkle at '$71,5O. A
fine Durham bull to Bell and Hamilton.
Three young steers. very good ones, were
bought by Christian Merritt for $12O, and
yearling Durham bull by DR.. Mason for
$50, ole bull calf months old brought SIS
and the yearlings from $40 TO $35 each.
The fat hogs averaged about cents
ranging from 5 to 10 dollars head. brood
sows $40 each.
The Cotswold sheep also brought good
prices, four Of the pick were sold to J. H.
Hamilton at $3.50 each, the rest of the
flock being taken by Samuel Driver at fig
ures ranging down to SIS per head.
Turkeys brought So 10 a pair and white
Guineas so cents pair. The family car
rioro cold for COAX ap6 woo bourhf hu Tpo