The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-09
Communication.
essrs. Editors VaLLev Viroiqalon

MesSrs. Editors ValLey Virginian
In your last weeks issue you gave history of
schools and school teachers running as far back
1910 The of those teachers lived me to see
them and make some acquaintance. My knowledge
back reached Francy Johnson, Geo. Afford and also
DR.. Hendren. We have frequently heard Dr. Hen
dren preach We well recolect hearing him preach
VIM. Bell funeral at the old Augusta Stone Chruch
In Dr. Conrad Species pastoral time VIM Bell was
DR.. VIM. Bells grandfather of Mt Sidney and the
father of the late VIM. j. ID, Bell. After Afford and
johnson left through death, and, indeed, while lv
there some four or five other teachers,
whose name VIM. Gaines. This man lived in
turn among the Mowry's, Devenbaugh's, Poages,
and what was then ciliied the Falling spring run.
The mill on this stream is owned by descendant OF
Mowly. This teacher alluded to am not prepared
to furnish accurate degree of his teaching. He
left of teaching school whilst was quite a boy.
From some cause Gaines cut his throat to take his
life but failed and lived some time after, bitterly
penting of his rash act The next teacher known to
left and went to Ohio. This man was pretty much
confined TO the three RS. The next man was anoth
Goodrich, Hesekiah. This teacher, to cultivated
minds at first sight, would think him of all men the
most untitled for the literary profession He po-
sessed but little attraction only those who knew
him and needed his mental abilities. Those schol-
whose purpose it was to fully understand math.
ematics, geometry, higonometry &c, their .coun-
tenance were always flushed with pleasure to call
the name of Hesekiah Goodrich in their hearing. Mr..
Goodrich the last in my memory that wore
knee buckles and long stockings. He was a com
plete sot to tobacco. Whether he understood Ian
gaages, can't say. But can say his superior in
figures and penmanship with the English language
Is no where above ground and can't think ever
viii be. His scholars have nearly all passed away,
myself, my brother and SamI Litten near Spring
Hill, all can recoect living who went to school
to him in our day. Perhaps f. j. Afford of your city
knew him by acquaintance his father some times
met with him. The now Verona neighborhood in
those days engaged the services Of james
Fields, an old Virginian This gentleman
handed am not prepared to say what was his at
tainments in learning. found him to my choice
among the three, the only teacher | ever went to
school 10, 1t being about nine months in all. This
mans scholars have nearly all passed away Myself,
my brother, Thos. and Mrs Agnes Edison, wife of
Vim. Eidson of Mt. Sidney, all the scholars can
recolect at this writing living. After Mr. Affords
death, a Ar; Madison,a an old man, came and taught
school In what is still called Croft's neighborhood
How long he taught don't reccoliect AS a ortho-
grapher there were few his equals Some of his
scholars are still living. The next in turn comes
David Ross of Row and Harold recollection, He had
sons; James and Anderson were boys with me-
James Ross is dead. Andrew is near hy his birth
place, Mt. Sidney, still living merchant of that
further cannot say; His schools such and
such lengths of time in place as to create the be-
lief he at last i'll the three RS.
Mr. Editors we write for no other purpose than to
fill want in Mr. Grattans history from 1920 t., VIM
Slower assuming teachers life about 1885 &c There
are still men among us who know from 1885 the rui
ing scholars down to this day write. BIessrs
Afford and Johnson died in Augusta The other
three their death place is unknown to MS Mr.
Fields quit teaching school ard went to Richmond
Va, and once after found him with Mr. Ragland
in large grocery business. Who're Hesekiah Good
rich went or died, If ever knew, have forgotten 1t
would afford us great pleasure to learn what he
came o, and who fell heir to his Journals He was
man who always wrote down every days work he
ever did Is there any bne OF your many readers
who tell us whence he came and whittier he
went? Perhaps Mr.. John G. Slower has some hfsori-
cal facts about Mr.. Goodrich's death, derived from
DR.. Hendren himself. We have no doubt Of Good
rich having visited the Hendren's in their dav nv
Editors, please make this readable, publish and
oblige JESSE n GILBERT