Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-11-11

ton, john lewis.
Some time since The defendants OF John
Lewis addressed the following letter, which
explains itself. to the City Council:-
To the Mayor and Council of the City of Staurs-
ion:
GENTLEMEN On behalf of the descendants
of Col. John Lewis, the pioneer OF Augusta and
founder Of Staunton. (now scattered through
the Union.) the undersigned beg to request
your Honorable body to grant them suitable
site in Glpsy Hill Park where Col. Lewis's re-
mains and those of his wife, Margaret Lynn
may be inferred, after removal from Fort
Lewis, on the Bellefont estate, near Stanton,
where Col. Lewis was buried at the time OF his
death in 1852. and his wife at a little later
period.
1t is their purpose to erect q statue of Col
Lewis. or O monument, simple. noble and
durable over the remains of himself and wife
the statue or monument to become when
completed the property of the city and to be
thereafter under the safe keeping. etc., OF the
public authorities.
Very respectfully your cbedient servants.
JOHN L. PEYToN,
MRS. JOHN 3. BALDWIN.
MRS. VIM. P. TAMS,
MRS. GEO. M. COCHRAN,
MRS. RICHARD P. BELL,
MRS. JOHN N. HENDREN,
MRS. VIM. FRAZIER,
H. W. COCHRAN,
Il. PHYToN BROWN,
MRS. NIL. GAY,
II. P. COCHRAN,
MRS. VIM. H. GRE ENE.
This letter was taken under consideration by
the City Council on Tuesday last. when every
md nf
Committee on Public Grounds and Buildings
recommending that the prayer of the signers
be granted, the report of the committee was
unanimously adopted.
Weneed hardly say that we are much graft
fed at this action of the "City Fathers.'-
Posterity should never be urmindful OF the
services and sacrifices Of their forefathers, or
tardy In doing Justice 10 their memories. John
Lewis was a man distinguished alike for his
valor intrepidity and enter prise. for his In
tegrity and great purity of life. At his house
the first sermon ever preached in the county
was delivered by Rev. James Thompson,
Presbyterian divine. He labored necessarily
and unselfshly from his arrival in the coun-
try until his death to advance the interest of
this community and to build up its every in
dustry, and at his death left five sons, all
in the history of Virginia the
first Hon. Thomas Lewis, delegate OF the
Freeholders of Augusta to the Colonial Con-
vention in ITS; the End. Andrew Lewis, the
hero of Point Pleas ant. and General In the
Army; the 3rd, VIM. Lewis.
Colonel in the army of the Revolutions; the
4th. Charles Lewis, a Colonel in the colony,
and killed at the battle of the Point IVA. and
several daughters. General Lewis's statue Is
on the Washington monument in Richmond.
and Lewis county. W. Va, was named In
honor OF Charles Lewis.
The children Of Col. Lewis have intermar- |
-ied with the prominent families of Virginia |
Ind the South such as the Prestons, Howards.
Browns, McDowells. Bentons.
3lairs. Weshingtons. Marsalls, Peytons,
Cochrans. Floyds, Carringtons. |
? remonts, Gibsons. Crittendens. Lees. Fraziers,
Hendrens, Stuarts, Tamses. Bells. Grays, !
and others too numerous to mention. |
That the representatives of these numerous |
md prominent families should take deep |
interest, as also the general public. in this
.tatue or monument ia not surprising. and we
rust their efforts may meet with perfect sue
Tess. The work will be one of art and art
reas ures are few in our community, and
therefore, ought to be encouraged by all. 1t
will beautify cur park and make 1t more than
ever a favorite resort. 1t has been well said |
hat the useful or practical will take care OF
tself tits necessary to cultivate the beauti-
ul; we hope, therefore, other works art will
ere long adorn our public grounds. We have
had great and good men in our county.-no |
has been.more fortunate In this re-
'pect, and as other communities honor their |
great men let us do likewise. A statue of
Wickham has lately been erected In Rich
mond, why should we not have statues OF
such great Augustians ps Shelley. johnson.
PaYton. BALDWIN and Stuart?