Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-05-08
That Mt. Crawford Brick.

We noticed in our last issue the statement OF
the Rockingham Registers Mt. Crawford cor
respondent about the manuscript in the wall
of an old house in that town. The brick, be-
hind which the manuscript was placed, has
been removed, and the same correspondent
furnishes the writing and the following infor-
nation concerning it:
The brick, which was marked by number
OF dots on the end, was removed last week,
and in the mortar back OF 1T was found tin
tube four incEes long, three-fourths of an inch
in diameter, ami open at both ends This en-
closed a half sheet of writing paper, badly
damaged by dampness and rust from the tin,
upon which was written the following sketch,
in q good business hand, but very much faded
I'M. Crawford, Rockin 7han1 county, "a, June
loth, lS55.-Mt. Crawford is situated between
North River and Cooks creek, the street rum
ming almost parallel with the creek.
The village contains about 40 houses, 3 stores,
Black smith shop, 2 Saddler shops. 2 Tailor
maker shop, 2 SHOEMAKER shops, 2 Taverns l
Mill, l Church, used mostly by the Methodists,
as the inhabitants of the village and vicinity
are generally, Methodists."
'This was written by VIM. G. Stevens, in the
year OF our Lord, 1885. This house was built
by VIM. and James Baker of Harrisonburg,
carpenter work by James GLADDEN., OF Mount
Crawford"
Buren,, Vice President of the United States |;
Littlefon Tazewell, Governor of Virginia.
Attached you will find a portrait of Wash
of America VIM. G. STEVENS,
aged Is years."
Through information received from two Of
our oldest residents, Messrs. A. Smith and
John Foley we are enabled to supplement
the foregoing writing with the names of the
business men and mechanics referred TO Dy
young Stevens. and give some other facts re-
iating to the early history of the village.
AT the close of the last war with England, in
1915, there were but four dwelling houses In
what was then known as Nit. Pleasant. One
occupied the site of the dwelling now owned
by James Alexander, another was the present
occupied by VIM. NJ. McAtee, and the fourth
was small house near the river. q part, per-
haps, OF the one now used for Miller's mouse.
About the year 1878 the name OF the village
was changed from Mt. Pleasant to Mt Craw-
ford in honor of the Crawford, who suose-
quently ran for the Presidency Of the united
States.
The three stores mentioned by Stevens were
carried on by his father, Edward stevens,
James Foley, father of our present Postmaster,
and William Fisher. The Blacksmith was ia
cob Paul, father of the late Treasurer OF Au-
gusta county Capt hner ;h and the ta
loring was done by John Smith and Matthew
Miller. P. A. Clarke. ST.. who died some years
| since at an advanced age, was the timer The
| Potters were Jonas Burkholder and VIM. Hiser,
and Cabinet-making was done by the two
brothers, James and Hugh Gllkerson. James
Moore and SIb. Burgess did the shoemaking,
and the mill was owned and operated by Peter
Dinkel. The two "Taverns," as Stevens calls
them, were conducted Dy James FOley anu I e
ter Dinkel; and our older residents will tell
you of the good cheer and low prices which
prevailed at these old-fashioned inns, and of
the strong rivalry that existed between them.
or all those persons named, but one is now
living in the V1llage-our venerable 1r1en0,
Judge Smith," as he has long been called,
who, with his grandson is still carrying on the
saddle and harness business. The only other
survivor OF the list is Hugh Gilkerson, who
lives some three miles east of this place.
James Foley, who was at the time an extern
sive property holder here, left large family,
and Mrs. Richard Pifer, are living in and near
town. The others removed many years since
to the West Others, whose names are still
preserved in this community, through their
children and grandchildren, are P 4. Clarke,
Sr., VIM. Hlser, Sib. Burgess. and James Glad
den.
The patriotic young writer having, perhaps,
no other means at hand of showing his devo-
ton to Washington and the Union, enclosed
with the writing two rude wood-cuts clipped
from an almanac, one representing the Father
of his country, and the other the coat of arms
of the United States.
VIM. G. Stevens succeeded his father in busi-
ness, moved to Harrisonburg, where he was
widely known in the mercantile trade, and az
forwards went South, and died some years
since.
HE represented for several terms Rocking
ham county in the Legislature, and was for
some time Editor of the Rockingham Register.
He was an intelligent and useful citizen, and
highly esteemed Christian gentleman.-ED.
SPECTATOR.
LETTER FROM JOHN B. COUGH TO THE W.
C. T. U.-To letter from Mrs. ]. w. Newtons
Corresponding Secretary of the Woman's