Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-11-09
CEo- P. MATHEs. Eplroe.
A VOICE FROM VIRGINIA.
How the Old Dominion Looks to Grant Count


JiAHs
CuARLEsTowN, Jefferson Co., West
Va, Oct, goth, 1892
To TIE GRANT CO., HERALD:-When
/ left Lancaster last September prom
ised to write you, after babe You all
good bye. and purchased tickets and
boarded the train on the N. w. Il. r. to
take me back to cold Yirginny,' /
prayed in my heart that had not bid
you all q final farewell. Well after
three days travel over the long stretch
Of r. X. between Lancaster and this
place we reached our destination,
Charlestown, in the Shenandoah Val
ley, where we met our relations and
friends who gave us the proverbial old
Virginia welcome back to the home of our
childhood. We missed from the throng
Of those who bid us welcome some we
had known in the long ago, they sleep
we are told that sleep that knows no
waking, but we love their memory still
On the 9th Of September we reached
Harpers Ferry, town built at the mouth
Of the great valley where the Shenan-
doah and Potomac rivers meet on their
way to the ocean. The government
had is armory at this place and gave
employment to over one thousand men.
1t was one the live towns Of the valley
At the breaking out Of the war the
government works were destroyed and
have never been rebuilt. 1t was at this
place John Brown made the attempt to
free the negroes of Virginia, for which
act he and the companions captured
with him paid the penalty of the law
with their lives, at Charlestown, the
county seat.
llarpers Ferry is looking up in the
past year, great many new buildings
arc in course of erection and great things
are looked for now, as the government
has determined to sell its great water
power and lands in and near the town.
There are several fine churches and
schools At this place, amongst the schools
is Sloren College, for the education of
colored people, located on Camp Hill
overlooking the two rivers, There is
also fine hotel which is well patronized
by the city folks during the warm wealth
or. seeking health and comfort out of
the crowded cities There are two rail-
roads running through the town and the
Chesapeake & Ohio canal over on the
Maryland side affords splendid trans
portatiou for the valley produce.
From lIarper's ferry we took the B..
" o. buch railroad, after fine ride
five we rcached Halltown There
y in operation nj this place a large
paper mill which employs large mum
ber of hands Paper made at this mill
is shipped All over the country !; there
are some very large and profitable farm.
in this section of the country, gooC
Touring and saw mills. Five miles
further on through lovely tract Of
country we reach Charleston, the county
seat Of Jefferson county, This is one o
the most beautiful towns in the Who'll,
valley. The land upon which it is bull
was donated b. Charles Washington
one Of the Washington family, who
owned vast tracts of land in this count,
over one hundred years ago. A shor
distance from the town limits join
Brown aud his companions were hung
The houses Of the town are mostl,
built of good, red brick, of the old En-
glish pattern. There are two fine hotels
six churches, two newspapers, two rail
roads, large sash and lumber factory
large market house and town hall, witt
magnificent courthouse and Jail, tw,
banks and numerous stores doing well
The people are kind, dignilied an,
quiet The war with them is a thing 0
the past they live ia the present pre-
ptriug tortho future. One seldom hear
tac war spoken OF unless some one IN
good humoccd way speaks Of some WA
incident. To strangers th@ people al,
courteous and agreeable. Many north
orn families have purchased farms il
this county. Jefferson is one of TIN
finest wheat counties in the State Til
year the largest crops ever known wer
harvested, many farms Yielding thirty
two bushels 10 the acre, while the aver
age Yield Of the county was twent.
bushels pur acre. The corn cropis >hor
bul lbe farmers will have sufficient t,
ler,l ara some d sell
rbc iands in Jefferson county byin.
ao5d prices; they range from $40 t.
$500, according to location and i'm
provemeut. The county is well wateretl
and in good grass. There are also som
very fine mineral springs over til
whole county
took "trip to Winchester to loo
over the ground where our old fricn,
Captain Il. used totell ms he made thos
gigantic strides during General Bank
retreat from the valley in 1862 | vii
say 10 A1PldlU -. 1 Std4& HtNNt HSdi
doubt his story Of strides or time il
that famous retreat. Winchester ha
improved somewhat since the war, an
were it not for the debt question Of til
State and the political party in power
Winchester would take her place rs III
metropolitan town Of the Shenandoah
valley. l want to say one word d
thanks 10 the conductor " no had charg
of the train in which we le't Lancaste
for his kindness and attention, and "
hope the y. W. r. r. will always kee
such men in their employ With I'll
kindest feeling for our friends and ne
quaintances left in Grant county. M
the warmest friendship, am truly.
". r. TANQUERl
The bust of Gen. Garfield modelled b
Preston Powers has been recently in
s,oc.ed nv Mrs. Garfield, who has Sigu