Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-04-05
SHEPHERDSTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. SATURDAY April
PRESIDENTS GRAVES.

Congress having granted an apPropri-
alton for the erection OF q monument
over the tomb of Jefferson, aud simi-
lar appropriation being sought for that
of TAYLOR, it occurred to the New York
World to prepare and publish an article
descriptive Of the places where the sew
enteen deceased Presidents of the Uni
ted States repose; and very interesting
account it is. The last resting place at
least of one Of these distinguished per-
sonages has TO stone to mark the fact
that beneath lie the remains of former
ruler of this mighty nation, others are
neglected and dispoiled by the hand OF
relic curiosity seekers, while still others
(noticeably that of Lincoln) are fitted
up with all the magniticence that wealth
and art could lavish upon them. The
first of the graves of these historic char
acters described in the Worlds article
is that of the immortal
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Every American, of course, is familiar
with Mt. Vernon, Va, either by actual
sight or description. The tomb is a
roomy brick vault, with an arched roof
and very substantial. Through the iron
gate two sarcophagi are seen. On a
marble tablet in the arch is an inscrip-
tion:-"Within this enclosure rest the
remains of General George Washing
ton." The cofiins, which lie in the open
ves,ibule of the vault proper. are OF
PENNSYLVANIA marble; that of Washing
ton bears an American shield, the other
but two words, "Martha Washington.
A few feet behind them is the vanit
door, bearing the inscription, Il am the
resurrection and the life; he that believ-
eth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live"
THE TWO ADAMS-rATuER AND son.
John Adams and John Quincy Ad-
ans sleep side by side beneath the Uni
tartan church at Quincy, Mass. The
tomb is an apartment in the front part
of the cellar under the church, walled
in with large blocks of roughly faced
granite slab, seven feet by three, with a
huge clasp and paddock, and massive
hinges OF wrought iron, all red with
rust. forms the door. Within, the bod,
les lie in leaden caskets, placed within
cases each hewn from single block OF
stone. The brick furnace for heating
the church is close to the door, and the
dim aud dusty vault, which is rarely
visited, serves as store loom for light
wagons, sleighs and other property. On
the right of the pulpit rs you face it, is
the memorial tablet of the elder Adams
and of his wife, of slightly clouded mar
ble seven feet by four, surmounted by @
life size bust. The inscription on the
tablet is too long for reproduction here
On the other side Of the pulpit is The
tablet of JOHN Quincy Adams and hi:
wife.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
The grave of Thos. Jefferson is in :
thick growth of woods, few hundred
yards to the right nj the embowerec
road leading from Charlottesville, Va.
up to Monticello. The spot is as lone
some as lovers of solitude could desire
! It's thirty graves are partly enclosed by ;
brick wall about one hundred feet square
and ten feet high, which on the south
side has been topped over bodily, ant
now lies in level courses OF brick and
crumbling mortar level with the ground
On the north and west sides arc iror
gates locked and red with rust. The
west wall is clad with a scanty growth
of Virginia creepefs; a single bush o
eglantine springs amiG the matted gras:
and weeds, loose bricks and stones tha,
cover the whole enclosure. Midway
along tho northern wall Wormly, JET
ferson's old servant, who survived hin
twenty-five years, dug his masters grave
in the spot his master had indicated
but the mound has been trodden level
with the earth. At its head was placed
coarse granite obelisk, nine feet square
Not an inch of its surface but has been
Clipped aud battered by the relic seeker
till from base to apex the corners pre-
sent the appearance Of rough hewn
stone. The sole inscription not ham
mered away is on small letters on, the
base: "Born April 2, o. s., TAP. Died
July 4, 1926.
JAMES MADISON.
James Madison is buried on the place
which be owned at the timo OF bis
death, at Montpelier, Va. The graceful
shaft over his grave is in the centre Of a
large field, in a lot one hundred feet
square, surrounded by a substantial
brick wall five feet high. Within the
enclosure is Madison's resting place, a
neatly tufted mound, over which rises
TO a height of twenty feet, from ped
estal OF four pieces, slender and grace
ful obelisk, bearing the inscription
"Madison, born March 1G, ISL" BY
its side is a smaller shaft IN memory oI
his wife. . ...t-
JAMES MONROE.
The remains of James Monroe sleep
in Hollywood cemetery, at Richmond,
Virginia, at point from which the eye
m, tola r,,aota, ,,f