The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-01
A Trio of Hermits.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Enquirer
LEWIS CENTRE. OHIO. April ID, 1879.

| A TITO OF defmlCS.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Enquirer
LEWIS CENTRE. OHIO, April IA. 1879.
Two and one-half miles west of this place
and on the west bank of the Sciota River
stands stone house, which was built by 6
pioneer named Vaughn in 1910. The house
fronts east, overlooking the river, and has
two doors on the front but no windows
The house has but two rooms, both entered
from the outside, and each room has q
window Of six lights Of Sxl0 glass. The
occupants OF the north room are three her.
mits, whose lives and history are peculiar
because Of their sameneas. The names of
these persons are Benjamin Vaughn, aged
seventy-seven Joshua Vaughan, aged
seventy-ive, and Sarah Vaughan, aged
seventy-three. There were originally ten
children in the family, most OF whom were
living in 1884, when the father died. Pre-
vious to his death the aged pioneer made a
distribution OF his property, which was to
take effect after his death. The division
l
Sarah, while Benjamin and Joshua each re-
ceived one hundred and thirty acres. These
| people had always enjoyed the good opin-
| ions of their neighbors, though they had al
ways lived secluded and were peculiar
in their habits, and this kept many peo-
pie except their simple neighbors from
visiting them. Persons living near them
grew accustomed to their absence from
about the farm and on the roads, ant in time
they were almost forgotten, so much so that
they lived forty-two years in one room, with
out once going beyond their door yard and
yet it occasioned no special comment. The
other brothers and sisters entered upon their
inheiritances and in time became poor, hav-
ing wasted or lost their property in various
ways. A visit to the hermits was prompted
by my curiosity and l went over to their
house to learn something of the details Of
their lives. The door was opened by Joshua
in response to my knock, and was invited
into the dingiest room ever saw inhabited
by free white people. I could not tell
whether the floor was OF stone or earth,
while the walls we're black with the smoke
and cobwebs. and the windows so dingy
that it admitted a few CLEANS Of colored
light, which was in harmony with the gen.
eral appearance Of the rooms. The ema-
ciated faces of the three inmates were
plainly visible by the light of bright fire
which was burning in the wide, old-fash-
Toned fire place. know not how to des-
cribe the haggard, skeleton faces and I'M
kept appearance of these people, all of
which seemed ia such strange contrast with
their pleasant voices and invitations to be
with them. The room was without furni.
ture of any kind, except a heap Of filthy
bedding, which was thrown in one corner.
An old-fashioned crane in the fireplace
supported a tea-kettle of ancient pattern,
while on the hearthstone stood an old pewter
teapot and three teacups. This constituted
the housekeeping effects Of these three
strange people. Neither chairs, tables,
stools or any article of furniture whatever
were visible. The stencil of the room was
anything but pleasant, but was modified by
the smoke from the pipes of the three, all Of
whom were vigorously engaged in smoking
pipes which might have done service since
the days Of Sir Walter Raleigh. Benjamin
Informed Inc that the last time he was away
from the house, until last year, was forty
three years ago, when he as fifer attended
general mus ter at Delaware. Eighteen years
ago nephew named Robinson, then quite
lad, came to live with them and look after
their outdoor interests. Over year ago
he was married, and then these hermits
decided to him their entire property, taking
life leases on it and its products, that they
might be assured living. The recording
Of these papers came to the knowledge OF
other nephews and kinspeople, some OF
whom began suit to have a guardian APP
pointed for them on the ground of imbecil-
ity. The sheriff served the proper summons
but they failed to respond, and Judge F. B.
Sprague issued attachments for them. but
so determined we're they not to obey, that
the officers had to force them into the car
rage.
The judicial inquiry lasted several weeks.
during which over three hundred witnesses
| were examined by Judge Sprague. When
questioned by the Court as to their peculiar
mode of living, they answered that they
had always lived that way. And as it suit
ed them they could not see why any one
should modest them. They said they dis
| into fn
be disturbed by any one ifthey coule help 1t.
Seven of the leading physicians examined
and pronounced them of sound mind and
competent to attend to their own at
affairs. The result of the trial was they
were considered so by the Court, aud re-
turned to their tea and tobacco, and in a
few years will be again forgotten. Sarah
Vaughn had not, up to the trial, been out
side of the yard within sixty years, and had
in all that time never seen the lard which
she owned, and had never been in the town
of Delaware, though it was only eight miles
away. Neither of them had ever seen rail-
road or steam engine, though for twenty ODD
years q railroadIhas run within few miles OF
the house. For years they cooked their own
meals, the provisions being purchased by
different hired men and neighbors, but after
the nephew came to live with them he did
all their marketing and finally the cooking.
Since the marriage of the wife the nephew
has done the cooking for them, and as for
washing l think, from their looks, that they
never have any done. About year ago the
nephew attempted to whtewash and clean
up the room, but they would not allow it.
Their neghbers testified that they are I'M
usually sharp in trade. and, as they required
all settlements to be made with them per.
sonally, they always knew the exact state
of their accounts. Sarah once knew how