Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-01-26

The following letter, which We re-
ceived the other day, will be read with
interest by many of our readers who were
acquainted witt. tue persons neatiSaed,
and by the few who are left Of those whom
the writer knew. 1t sounds like voice
from the buried past, and will bring to
the minds Of our older readers many men,
cries Of the "auid lang sy.e." The letter
is rs follows:
MONTPELIER, IND, Jan. II, 1881.
Enclosed you will find post-office order
for 81 for The REGISTER for six months.
| would subscribe for longer period, but
| am uncertain of remaining in my pres
cnt location longer than that time.
lived in Shepherdstown from 1880 TO
1885. was boy IL years old when
left for the West. | have very distinct
and pleasant recollection of the old Gown,
| AS think some Of my happicst years were
spent there. had half brother living
there. with whom lived. His name was
Malcolm Kirk, acOachmaker. He married
George Milier's daughter. All the OLD
settlers will remember him. remember
| distinctly some of the prominent charac-
tiers Mt that time. Ben Towner was one
of the principal merchants, fine bust
ness man and gentleman. John Cookus
was postmaster and carried on Il store at
the same time. DR.. Parran was the most
prominent physician. remember dis
tinctly how he looked. lie was very
| feminine and delicate, but every inch n
| gentleman. And there were the Selby's,
Walter, Tom and Henry. | suppose they
| have all passed over the river. Walter
was quite intelligent, and something OF a
politician. He and Archie Cameron, the
tailor, had some hot discussions on poll
tics, Walter being 4 Democrat and Cam
eron Wing, and strange AS it appears 1t
was ON the tariff, which divides the two
! parties at the present time. hope that
question will be settled in the present
century. Tom Selby was quite different
character from Walter. They used to
fight chickens ut Mrs. WeltZheimer' S
tavern, and can remember Tom was one
of the leaders for the Shephcrdstown side,
and if a knock down was in order Tom
was in. Then there was Major Ham
tramck, who married Selby. lie was
strictly 4 military man, large, and As
straight as West Point would require.
He had been appointed Indian agent, l
think BY President Adams. President
Jackson removed him. lie returned home
while lived there. His travelling outfit
would he Il curiosity at the present day.
An old-stylc carriage with four horses
and 4 very important darky dressed in the
height of fashion, with Il big plug hat that
they called bell crown. Behind there was
another darky standing up, holding to the
straps, the foOtman. When the carriage
arrived in town everybody was out, as II
it was q circus procession. The Mayor
was terribly down on General Jackson.
The reason, expect, WAS because Inc re-
moved him from a fat office. have never
heard of the Major since. lie died, sup
pose. before the late war, for know he
would have been heard Of in that. lie
organized company called the Potomac
Rifles in my boyhood. | thought them
the height of military perfection. Per-
haps they were. The Lucas family were
quite conspicuous characters, especially
old Bob. lie neither looked afraid nor
ashamed of anybody, and thought when
saw Stephen A. Douglas he bore Il
striking resemblance to Lucas us saw
him in my boyhood. There was Alex
ander Botelcr, who has since achieved Il
national reputation, was, rs saw him, a
slim ,quck-metioned young man who wore
glasses. There were the BrdingcrS, quite
conspicuous. Henry was just in the flush
of early manhood, talented and hand
some. 1 could go ON to any length to give
you my remembrances of the old town in
the long ago. l hope she is prospecting,
and the descendants of those | remember
may be worthy of their sires, and may
they build up the waste places made by
the unnatural war is my sncerest wish.
Yours with great respect,