Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-14
BOTETOURT COUNTY.


Correspondence ofthe Richmond Dispatch
FINCAsTLE, January III, 1886.
Not before within the memory OF
our Oldest inhabitant have so many Of
our country folk been detained from at
tending their monthly County Court.
And no wonder, for rarely do we pass
through such spell of weather as has
been upon us. for the past few days.
On Saturday the tail Of the northwest
ern blizzard struck us, and how it
did sting Ugh Six inches Of
dry snow had fallen on Friday.
and on the next day strong, biting
nor wester came along, sweeping the
earth in some places as clean as a
threshipg floor, in others banking the
snow waist high, siltiDgit into unknown
cracks and crevices, biting and blind
ing the unfortunate traveller. Mr..
Bruce Tutwiler, OF Lynchburg, on his
way from Brands store to this place,
was stalled in snowdrift about two
miles from town, and, leaving his wa
eon and trunks behind, rode into town
bareback and bareheaded, his ears and
fingers being very badly frosted. Col
onel Edmund Pendleton, in trying to
reach court to-day, was upset in a snow
heap but not hurt.
A distressing accident occurred this
morning at the Hayth House, which
resulted in the death of ten-months-
old infant Of Mrs. Haymaker. and very
nearly caused the burning Of the hotel.
The mother left her child in bed alone
as she went about her domestic duties.
In a short time smoke was discovered
issuing from the room. The bed was
on fire and the child was enveloped in
the flames. 1t is thought spark from
the e.place ignited the bed-clothipg.
To see our new judge upon the
County Court bench takes one back to
the times before the revolution Of re-
adjustment.
William B. Simmons, who took his
seat to-day, was born on Mill creek, in
this county, forty-seven years ago. He
is of pure German stock. He was edu-
Gated at Roanoke College, leaving that
institution to enlist in the Confederate
army, serving with gallantry in Com
pany A, Twenty-eighth Virginia, until
1864, when severe wound retired him.
After a course of private reading he
as admitted to the bar in 1870 elect
ed in 1873 Judge of the County Court
to succeed Hon. John j. Allen, serving
until superseded by Mays. He was one
of the Judges tried and acquitted in the
Federal Court at Lynchburg charged
with violating the civil.rights law in
excluding negroes from his juries. In
1888, when Mays, anticipating the ac-
ton of the Legislature, handed in his
resignation, many thought that Sim
mons ought to have been reinstated.
He was chairman Of the County Exc
cutive Committee that managed the re.
markedly successful canvass Of last
fall, and after the primary it was pretty
well understood that the matter of the
iudgeship was settled. For many years
Judge Simmons was commissioner in
chancery of the Circuit Court, and
made diligent, painstaking officer.
G. NJ. Lunsford, ESQ.,. has been APP
pointed to the position Of commissioner
of accounts, made vacant by the cleo
ton of Judge Simmons. A better APP
pointment could not have been made.
The revival of business reported else
where has not struck us yet. Major
Mcdowell says the business in the
clerks Office is duller than ever before.
Though the Board Of Supervisors have
extended the time for collecting county
taxes without penalty, very little money
is coming into the treasury. Men who
never before failed to pay their taxes
promptly do not come to time this year
During the past year stock in the
matrimonial market declined fearfully
have examined the records as far bach
as 1871, and last year was the wors
of all for the matrimonial business, no
even excepting the year Of the grea
panic, 1873.
The clerk informs me that clergymeI
are very derelict in the matter Of re
turning marriage certificates. Thes'
reverend gentlemen are warned that i
they should be indicted for this viola
ton of law they cannot claim the bene
fit Of clergy.
One consolation we have this COLI
weather is that all our ice-houses ar
filling with beautiful ice from five t
seven inches thick. Our apprehension
| is over. No ice would be great ca
lamity in this inland town. The Their
mometer has registered as low as Il
degrees below in this neighborhood.
The curbstone parliament has I'D
journed until the thaw sets in. In tn
mean time. the issues Of the day are be
ing discussed around stoves in counting
rooms and public offices. ACTON.