The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-16

AFTER THE OLD HOMESTEAD,
But Found Only Its Ruins, Hemmed In by
Virginia Town Lots.


II is estimated that the revenues Of the Post
office Department have been increased at least
13 per cent. by the organization Of the Sons Of
the Revolution and of the Daughters of the
Revolution Not that the sons ana daughters
have started regular correspondence bureau.
for no intermediary association would be re-
ouired to boom this already hourishing depart
ment of the postal service, but the starting
of societies in all parts of the country and
the dissemination Of literature on the
subject have started many hundreds OF
inquiries by mail about this or that common
ancestor, and those on the inside are really
beginning 70 be surprised at the number or
Americans resident in the United States who
had ancestors old enough totight the blasted
Britishers" lis years ago and subsequently.
And when 20 this fact is added that there
were great many Americans who did not
bear arms during the Revolution, as some
Oody had to do the farming and attend TO the
business of the young country, 1t is seen that
there is quite respectable number or United
Staters who can sing with feeling Hail
Columbia" and the Star Spangled Banner
But this is q depression. Detter-writing was
the theme From many sections misslves
have come TO people asking them about tins
or that granduncle, grandfather or grand
mother. These letters have had various re-
ceptions, for stpeople are about as cautious
in acknowledging claims OF relationship as IN
introducing in mixed crowd two people
from the same city.
Many Americans are already burdened with
too many relations. as they will acknowledge
TO their SORROW. Many have enough and few
too few But now and sben an interesting
situation is developed by this unique CORE
spondence, and the following story Is told
about one:
Before the Revolution two brothers lived in
Alhemarle county, Va. Their grandfather
was one of the Huguenots who at Governor
SpOtswood's invitation had settled IN Marl-
can Town. Their grandmother was OF the
sturdy Scotch-Irish stock. which settled prin-
cipally in the Valley. The elder brother.
marrying d young wife, went over the
mountains and settled in what was
then farther Virginia, but Is now
State known far and wide for its blooded
horses good whisky and fair women; IN fact
he settled in Gods country" This first-set-
tier tendency was handed down TO his many
children and their descendants, and to make
a long story shorter a grandson was one OF
those who in lS49 pushed overland TO the
gold-felds of California.
The son of the "Forty-niner. millionaire
of San Francisco wrote recently 10 woman
of the same family name whom he had read
had participated in one Of the patrlouc gath
erings in New York city Her ancestor was the
second son of the old Albemarle county farmer
and for two generations her family had lived IN
New York city. The correspondence, begun IN
this way ended in an acquaintance with ner
distant Californian cousin. and. with truth 10
the Virginia instinct, ended III ni trimony-
no time being lost-a few weeks ago, for he
was brave and wealthy and she was young
and fair They had lost sight OF many
Of their relatives and had never been IN
Virginia, but on their wedding trip they went
to Asheville, n. c., and while there he deter
mined. true to another Virginia instinct, TO
hunt up the old homestead and make It his
own.
Bringing his wife TO Washington he started
on his search. which was made comparatively
difficult by the destruction Of county land
records during tho war. But he found the
place at last. and returned 10 Washington yes
terday with the sad intelligence that the
homestead could not be purchased. The
house, one of those roOmy dwellings with I'M
mense succeed pillars hedging IN portico.
which commanded a view q the Blue Ridge.
had been destroyed by fire. and on It's site
stands darky's shanty built of the debris.
The house could easily be rebuilt, but what
would a homestead be without the paternal
acres? These though had been catght in tho
meshes of the Virginia boom and had been
cut up into prospective town lots, which were
being widely advertised. Where the quarters OF
the slaves stood was a car-wheel shop, and
what used TO be the ancient gate lodge had
been turned into real estate office. and the
only comment the son aud the daughter OF
the American Revolution had TO make was
sic transit gloria Yirginiae.