The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-02-08
A Story of one of the old Settlers.

IRepOrteQ Tor Inc NIRGINIAN.t
About fifty years ago party of youngster
left Waynesboro' for a.spree There were tou
in the party and they chose a one-horsesleigl
as a conveyance They shaped their course
toward Nelson, taking tie Rockflsh road
| Whiskey flowed pretty freely and the whole
crowd were pretty well corned before half way
down the east slope of the Blue ridge. WAilC
making merry in theiE ride down the noun
tain, the horse from SINE cause became IN
manageable, and running off upset the sleigh
spillng the young men and tearing things up
generally. On picking themselves up, the
merry makers concluded to follow the horse
and recapture him, but though they used ev-
cry effort to find him tlieir search was fruit
less. The rapid approach of darkness adnon-
ished them That they must leave off the search
and betake themselves to an inn. This they
! did, spending the night in blarity. In the
morning it was suggested by some of the party
that 1t was likely the horse (who had kicked
free from the sleigh except the shafts had
given them the slip and returned to Waynes-
boro', where he would be cared for until their
return, and that as they had started out for
fun, fun they must have. So proceeding on
foot TO the place at first started for they held
high carnival for several days. At the end OF
week the young man to whom the horse be-
longed concluded to 'set 'em" up for the last
time and "swar" off. Purchasing a pint (as
was customary in those days. he invited the
party to drink with him, which they did. AS
soon as the drink was taken the gentleman
made known his intention of quitting the use
of the "creetur."
They returned to Waynesboro', but nothing
y~Eas heard from the horse for some DAYS, when
a mountaineer discovered him wedged between
two trees at the edge of "a tremendous precipice
which prevented him from going forward.
while the shafts at his heels, acting as prop
or brace, kept him from backing out. And
here had the poor animal been held for four
teen days without food or water and exposed
to the incemency of the weather. How he
lived was mystery, but live he did and by
careful Nursing regained his health an6 flesh.
The horse was traded for a tract of land,
"HSe' AIV oNiSC, OA IuC ulUuutdlu dUOub o
miles south of Waynesboro', and his owner,
taking his saddle upon his back, went forth to
begin new life in tie dense forest, which at
that early period covered his newly ACQUIRED
possession. Hastily throwing up log cabin
into which wife was shortly afterward in
stalled, our hero began life IN earnest. For
years the couple struggled up the hill of life
against many adverse happenings; the wife
spinning, weaving, and in many other ways
contributing her aid to the laying up of some.
thing for the future, while the husband alter
nately in clearing his lands of trees and stones
and in doing day labor for the farmers in the
valley, taking as pay from them provisions to
keep his family while he labored on his own
lands.
When you are told that there was no road
by which wagon or even sled could oe
brought nearer than five miles of his home.
and that he has had to carry on his shoulder
100 ID. quarter of beef and salt enough to pre.
serve it, distance of six miles up the steep
side OF the mountain, you may have an idea
OF what beginning this was. l am now
writing on drop-leaf walnut dining table.
large enough to accommodate eight persons
comfortably when dining, that this man car
ried distance of eight miles. His grists were
all carried by him to ami from the mill for
years until he became able to own horse.
Many day he worked hard in the valley and
then climbed the mountain in order that his
wife might not spend the night alone in that
wilderness. When land enough to furnish him
bread-stutf and food for his hogs had been
cleared, he devoted most of his time to work
at home. Loud rang his sharp AK as the for
est giants gave way before it. He worked day
and night in his clearings.
The wife piled her avocation at the loom in
day time, and at night when baby had been
hushed to repose she heaped and burned brush
while her husband felled trees by the light
thus afforded.
The land made generous return for the labor
bestowed upon it. Corn and oats, hay and
fodder in abundance were gathered wear after
year.
Pigs, COWS, sheep, poultry and horse were
in due time acquired. comfortable house
stable, spring-house and other buildings were
erected. Strong and high fences were made
and while the horse rested in the furrow the
farmer picked and piled rocks There are not
less than three hundred heaps of rocks on this
farm averaging at least 81 tons. This may
seem unreasonable but here they are to be seen
any day, and the many hundreds who visit the
far-farmed Hump back rock yearly can testify
to the truthfulness of the statement. 1t is
truly wonderful what an amount of work
man of energy and strength can perform in a
lifetime.
When you visit Hump-back (Which you
should do at an early day., you will see to your
left, just as you turn southwark after topping
the mountain, the farm of which | write.
will give you in my next some interesting
facts regarding the settlers on the mountains
gathered from Mr.. Launcelott NJ Butler, who
is the gentleman referred to in the above. and
who now, at the age of "a, enjoys the fruits of
his early labors and retains at this great age
wonderful amount OF health and strength.
ROVER
RECUT ATTnNs F0R ,pNr TN rtrrC Droorc,,