Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-01-27
BUNKER HILL.
January 18th, 1894.


January 18th, 1894.
EDITOR WIsNER.
Business relations required nv at
tention recently in Berryville, Clarke
county, Va. Some time has elapsed
since l had visited that famous his.
toric county, was deeply interested
In making observations as / passed
through the country, my mind was
naturally led back to the times of
Fairfax and Washington, who in the
early times of the settlement of our
colonies, chose this valuable and fer
tile spot of land for their homes and
various business operations.
As you approach Berryville the
country spreads out in one beautiful
level and fertile plain. No country east
or vest taking all advantages into
consideration can excel the beautiful
lands around the ancient town of
Berryville, Va.
was reminded of an incident
which occurred during the late clvs'
war. A Federal General Multi a
who was encamped with bis ar, gan
the heights of the Blue Rid, my on
looking the valley in wb' - 81 1 over,
county is situated. and whilst iGn there there
wrote letter to his WIFI sn', rb;c shei iu
one OF te e battles o. Wincbe.t.r was
car .dred, which litter stated that he
was encamped on top of the Blue
Ridge, overlo oking one Of the most
beautiful countries God ever made.
10 those rot acquainted with it's To-
cation 1t may not be amiss to briefly
describe its location. Berryville is
the county seat, but various other
towns and villages are situated in
the county; White Post, Wildwood
etc.
The plain waters of the Shenan-
doah sweep around the eastern boun
Diary OF the county, which finds its
outlet in the Potomac at Harper's
Ferry. The Norfolk & Western r.
K. passes from south to east through
the county. The boundaries on the
one side is Jefferson county, on the
southern and western the counties
of Warren and Frederick, on east the
county of Loudon. The soil 10 much
Of it OF the alluvial limestone which
is grandly productive of all the
grains and grasses known in this
section Of the United States. Gen.
Dan1 Morgan, of Revolution mem
DRY, at one time lived in Berryville
which at that time was called Battle
town, on account OF the many pugu-
listic battles fought in and around
the place, in which Morgan figured
largely, but afterwards became dis
tinguished general in the war forour
independence. In this county is q
place called Soldiers Rest, neal
which was a cabin or log hut about
twelve feet square in which from
| well authenticated sources it is said
was occupied by Gen. Washington
when a youth Of sixteen years ofage
as rendezvous while surveying land
for Lord Fairfax, who owned by a
grant from the King of England, the
whole of the northern neck Of Vir
GINA.
| 1t was in this county that those
two great men pitched their tents
| who doubtless chose this garden
| spot as the best field for their opera.
lions, Lord Fairfax as owner Of the
wide and fertile plains bordering on
the waters of the Shenandoah and
Gen. Washington as his surveyor OF
lands settled for time on it's pleas
an; and fertile banks.
| Here it was that great and good
man first commenced his career oil
usefulness to mankind. A stripping
of sixteen roaming over the fertile
lands of the great Shenandoah Val
ley, as well as the spurs of the ALE
| ghanies, among skin-clad savsges
rarely sleeping in a bed holding 6
bear skin, splendid couch, among
people who never would speak Eng
| fish and yet God in His all-wise
Providence had not selected Kings
or Lords or Noblsmen but the Viz
| ginia STRIPPING to give an impulse to
and as far as events can depend upon
an individual had placed the rights
and the destinies of countless millions
in the keeping of the widows son.
| Near the village of White Post in
this county is a country seat called
l Greenway Court, which was built by
Lord Fairfax as his place of residence
and the owner of the great domain
already alluded to, who it is said
was man of eccentric habits, hav.
| ing his lands laid off in plantations,
would at times grant considerable
tracts to worthy me n for the gift oil
a turkey or some other slight com.
| pensation.
Judging from the present race Of
men now living in the county Of
Clarke, the original inhabitants were
English people. as they possess much
OF the spirits and habits of the caval-
ier stock who first settled the Vir.
| ginia colony being high-souled, hon
orable and hospitable people.
| During my stay at Berryville !
was kindly treated and especially SO
by Mr.. ]. r. Henson and George O,
Gaines, the latter named gentleman
a young lawyer as we think, OF
fair promise in the future.
Yours, s.