Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-31
Az3ntsis Of Alexmussria-EGHr Series.

Years.
1851. The year 1851 seems 10 have passed
most Quietly in tho growing town. The trus-
tees held but one meeting, and that merely
in relation to tho renting Of the warehouse,
and there is 40 other record Of the year. The
country above had. however, largely increased
in population, and In April OF this year Lou
doun county was cut eff from Fairlsx upon the
petition of the people in the upper part OF tho
county, who had found it very inconVonlont to
attend Court, &C., at Alexandria. The new
county cut off "a that part lying above Diff
cult Run, and by line from the head OF said
run, straight course to the mouth or Rocky
Run" and Alexandria ceased to be the county
town of that portion Of the colony.
1853. On October IS, 1858. the trustees
met to fill two vacancies 10 the Board. Hugh
West, the mcst active of the founders of the
town had died during tho previous summer,
and Col. VIM. Fairfax, on the Sd OF Soptem..
Der. The trustees chose Robert Adam and
John Muir to ill the vacancies d:
Robert Adan. came to Alexandria from kll'
bride, Scotland, almost as 5000 as tho town was
laid out, and engaged in mercantile business.
tie was the son of Scotch clergyman. and re.
maiocd member Of tho Board OF Trustees tor
many years. lie assisted in opening AleZan:
dria WASHINGTON Lodge of Free hlssous, and
was liz first Master. lie was an ancestor OF DR..
Il. l. Adam.
John Muir, an Alexandria merchant. came
here from Dumfries Scotland. Lie was born
in 1871. was actively engaged in business here
until 1870, and died the year following. tie
served as trustee until the board dissolved. lie
was chosen in lit 4 Yestryman OF Christ
Church, but declined. There is tablet to bis
memory in Christ Church yard, leaning against
| the cast wall of the church. No descendants OF
| his ramc now reside here.
| A successful foo of tho common veal called
for vigorous onslaught during the autumn OF
this wear. The prophetical intultions OF the
| founders of the town had forecast its coming,
and made in the organic law provision against
an advent which, after more than century or
rcprcsSivc legislation, is almost annually re-
ncwcd, to the terror of every quaImlsh stomach.
! At first it was deemed that easy victory
would be gained. and on tho 18th of October,
| l75S, it was
| "Ordcrcd that some effectual methods be
used to suppress the keeping and raising OF
hogs by the inhabitants OF this town"
! But after an unsuccessful TaretGre, which
las been transmitted from generation to gene
ration, like that
| &c. battle, once begun,
Rcducathed in vain from sire to son,
| the town seems grown to recognize Its dlsc0n-
| future and to sucoumb to the Inevitable ; and
although unable to drive the hogs from town. it
has taken the wise revenge OF excluding the
name Of its ancient foe from its laws, aad 10
ali tho town code there isno mention Of hogs.
This is sort of Innocent ruse to persuade them
| ~, Loo nut
under another namc still smells es sweet, and
to days statute torbids the keeping Of 'aDy
swine' and imposes penalty upon leach
sFiso" kept in town. During all this year con
siderable bodies Of militia were kept in the
field, and the records Of the State contain
the following muster roll of an Alexandria.
Fairfax Company paid off during the tall at
the Court House here:
Nicholas Minor, captain JosIas Chaplain,
Lieutenant " n. Trammell, ensign Charles
Martin, Francis Summers, Jesse Martin, SER
ieants; Edward Hardin, John Donaldson, VIM.
Calvin, Samuel Phillips, James Thomas. VIM.
Darns, Joshua Meaks, John Wren, William
Short Ridge, Samuel jenkins, Samuel More,
Richard Pell, VIM. Bowling Philip Merchant,
George Vacnlingham Robert Bowling, Isaac
lIusscy. Benjamin. Williams, Moses Howard,
James Robinson, John Davis, Thomas jenkins,
Abraham Stiff. Joseph Adams, Joseph Brad
ley, Thomas Cartwright, Francis Aubrey,
Joshua Claypole, William O'Danicl, Thomas
Saunders, Edward Rice, William Cottrlll, John
Martin, Peter Wilson, VIM. Jackson, VIM.
M'Coy, Henry Townsend, Thomas Morgan,
Thomas Ray. VIM. Massey, Franklin Perry
and George Shoemaker.
1862 Early in 1853 great event took place
which made Alexandria and itsne ighborhood gay
for many months. Col. Washington, who, on tho
9Th of January, had married Mrs. Martha
GUSTS, brought bis wife to Mount Vernon and
established there the household, afterwards per.
petuatod at Arlington. Balls and parties made
gay winter.
The business of the town had by this time
so increased that tho water lots around the cove
had become useful for mcrchantile purposes,and
the question Of rights on tho river front grew
in Importance. Mcssrs. Carlyle & Dalton
owned the two sides of Cameron streets adjoin-
ing tho river shore (then at Water street, aud
on the 18th Of July, 1859, the firm proposed TO
the trustees that they would make good land
ing at tho foot Of Cameron street if the use of
one halt of the landing should be granted to
them. The grant of ono half was made, and
the hill at Cameron street was then cut, so as
to slope from Fairfax street to the river, and
|
pier or wharf, extending into tho river
short distance beyond Water street.
Rev. Andrew Burnaby, of West Greenwich.
England, visited Virginia this year, and spent
some days at Mount Vernon. 10 these days
we carry our visitors to Mount Vernon. Then
visitors at Mount Vernon we're carried to the
| Great Falls to see one of the wonders of nature,
| and to Alexandria to view a rising American
town. BurnaDy has left brief but striking
picture Of Alexandra as he saw it in the fell of
1859. lie writes:
! "From Colchester we wont about twelve
miles farther to Mount Vernon. This place is
the property Of Col. Washington, and is truly
| deserving of its owner.
We rested here one day and proceeded up the
river about &c miles to take view of the
| Great Falls
| 10 the evening We returned down the river 10
! Alexandra, or Bel haven, small trading
place, 10 ono of the finest situations imagiu