Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-08-20
GOV. JOSEPH WILSON FIFER.

The present Governor OF Illinois, Joseph
Wilson Fifer visited Monday and Tuesday the
city and the scenes of his birth and early boy
hood home In Augusta county. He was &C.
companied by his wife and child. Governor
Ftfer is about six feet in stature, sparely built
and of handsome person. His eyes are dark
hair black, little iron gray mixed, and mas.
| sive Observation-Disclosures he is q man who
makes q decidedly favorable impression, GER
tainly as he was observed yesterday &C,
companied by his wife when they were at the
Court-House examining some of the records OF
the county of his birth.
Mondsy when 1t was known that he had ar
rived at the Virginia Hotel. the stonewall
Brigade Band, with the characteristic courtesy
Of that Association which reflects SO much
honor upon our people. arranged to tender
him a serenade, at which time many of our
citizens would call on him. During the day
he went out to Churchville and Jennings Gap
to visit the old homestead OF his father. and
he was so much engrossed with the visit in
that vicinity that his return that night was
| not assured. Forty years had elapsed since
! his father-himself then nine years old-had
I removed to Missouri. whence, after six years
| residence there, he removed to Illinois. His
| father was a highly-esteemed citizen, q MEM
Der of Union Church. when the late DIR. Hen
dren was pastor there. One son was named
| for DR.. Hendren, and the Governor for the late
| DR.. Joseph Wilson who resided in Churchville
The old family cemetery and many other as
sociationS OF his youth were visited and his
memory went back in full recognition OF the
| scenes and the events of the day. in his inter-
vie WIS with Col. S. Brown A lien and other
citizens of the vicinity.
| Early Tuesday Mr.. ]. Howard Wayt called
| on him and arranged for a visit to the Augusta
Female Seminary where he was met by Rev.
DR.. Mcfarland and others. and q pleasant and
interesting interview ensued. His father was
a builder, and he remembered that he built
| the Manse of the First Presbyterian Church
| now the residence of DR.. Mcfarland. where he
| called during his morning tour. At the Court-
House, Judge Stout, Clerk Burnett. Hon. Jos
A. Waddell. and many other citizens were
| introduced to the Governor and Mrs. FIfer
| who were much interested in all they saw, and
the history which was hurriedly traced dur
ing their stay there. At u o'clock he called on
Hon. Alex. 81. n. Stuart. which the Governor
remarked was one of his cherished purposes
In making this his first visit after the lapse Of
| forty years to his native county. Though very
young at the time, he well recOllected Mr.Stuart
and the Impressions made upon him by the
now venerable statesman who at that time
and subsequently was such conspicuous
figure in American politics and civil admins
tration. He will carry with him through life
the most please mt remembrance OF that visit
| and Of the brief interview he had with the
eminent citizen whom his father had taught
him to honor, and whom his own reading and
| observations had recognized as possessing
patriotism and an ardent love Of country.
The party left on the afternoon train for the
fhI iu1,o
appreciation for the attentions they had re-,
ceived. and the Governor recognized that
Augusta had claim upon him to aid her. If
| he could. in the onward march of progress and
| material development which, on every hand.
| he observed was SO manifest in this charming
Valley Of Virginia.
Here we thought the report of Governor
Fifer's visit would end. but some of our public
| spirited citizens and the Band determined to
capture him on the wing. Just before the ar
rival Of the West bound train on which he
was to depart, the Band, with large number
of citizens-among whom was Captain j. L.
Wilson, of neutrality-suspicious. in front of
the Virginia Hotel. AS the Governor appeared
on the portico, the Band played Auld Lang
Syne. Captain Jno. N. Opie introduced the
Governor in brief and handsome terms. He
referred to his birthplace and to the Western
emigration in 1850. The Augusta boy had be-
come the distinguished Governor of the great
State of Illinois. Speaking OF his services as
a soldier. he was "private Fifer Of the Federal
army" and as such he was not unknown to
privates as well as to many others OF the
Confederate service. We honor him now az
Governor OF the great State of Illinois and still
remember him as the Augusta county boy
who has won his way to distinction and honor.
Houaruor Effar rorpoudad sowing ha frulv
appreciated this demonstration. I meet you
to-day as fellow-citizens under one common
nag. Addressing the Band he said. have been
told you belonged to the Stonewall brigade OF
the war which ended and settled all questions of
dispute. Jackson added as much to American
valor as any hero engaged In the cor fiict. and
1t Is a simple act of Justice that should say
that much.
am here to ee the scenes of my childhood.
and feel that am growing old. Soon we shall
all pass over the river, and this reminds of the
last words of Jackson when he thought him.
self in the field of battle and issued orders to
his Generals and then uttered those memors-
BILE words "let us pass over the river and rest
under the shade of the trees"
In 1850, my father with my mother and seven
children moved from Augusta to Missouri.
where my mother died. After six years. resi-
Va, and then moved West again 10 McLain
county, Illinois, which has been my home ever
since.
Through the war and since have desired to
know how my old native county looked, for
always felt great interest in the people of the
county of my nativity. Having few weeks
to spare, proposed to my wife that we visit
the scenes OF my boyhood. She readily and
willingly assented. and she has been greatly
delighted with 1t. He said his wife. II she was
a Yankee, was the best woman in the world
She loved one native Virginian before, and
now that she has been here awhile, she loves a
thousand. He would now leave in few min
utes for the White Sulphur Springs, and, when
returning, would stop here, and, If he had the
time, would like to remain two or three
montha.
As the Executive of Illinois, the greatest
State of the Union, certainly the greatest in
agricultural resources, he wanted to give a
welcome to all these good people who had been
SO kind to him, and invited them to come out
and see him there. There are many virginiansin
Illinois, and there is kind of Masonic feeling
among them. Now, I want you to come out to
the State of my adoption. Come and see me.
The latch string is on the outside. and before
you leave you will think you are partly gov
ernor yourself.
Much applause followed, and then the Band
struck up Dixie. He remarked to friends
present that he desired his wife to see these
kind people. and then Captain Opie escorted
Mrs. Fifer to the front of the portico where she
was received with applause by the assem- blage.
and music by the Band. which was acknowl-
edged on her part by graceful bow.
|
| <VfrGfnfa Synod. Lutheran Church.
The annual session Of the Virginia Synod OF
the Lutheran church commenced at Mt. Tabor
| church In Augusta county yesterday. A large
| number of ministers arrived by the Valley
trains yesterday. many of them dining at the
Hoover House, where they were met by COM
nittees of the Mt. Tabor congregation and
conveyed to their places of abode in that vicin-
ity.
Rev.J.A. Snyder of New Market Is President
0f the hOdv The session will last q week Or