Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-11-08
EDlNBURG.

Edinburg, unlike many of the towns o
the valley, has no record prior to tb'
American revolution, but can DO proper
" classed among the modern towns
whose existence has grown out of the
necessities brought about By the internal
Improvements sf the country. Before
the bullding of the valley turnpike in
io4J, it was kcOwa as Stony creek, a
stopping place for the old Brocket stages
which made about two trips week oyer
the old country road which extended
from Winchester to Staunton. The houses
that marked the location of Stony Creek
of those days, still stand. One wa,
greatly improved by the late Geo. Rye
and another stands there exhibiting by
It's appearance its great age and on that
account commanding the respect of the
modern dwellings that surround it on all
sides. Whsn the turnpike was construct
ed the location OF the road was changed,
aud instead of following the hollow, near
the creek, it was placed on the elevated
grourd which now forms the Main street
CT the town.
The land upon which the iowa was
located belonged to Grandstaif, Shryock1
and Stephen Bowman.
THE GRANDSTAFFs
AS the early settlers of the town, were
almost exclusively Gran istaffs and their
connections, brief history OF that fam
~ would be interesting. Among the
sarly settlers of this valley who came
rom Pennsylvania was Geo. Grandstaf.
lie purchased farm on Narrow Passage,
lboGt 4 miles north west of Woodstock, a
,art of 1t from Lord Fairfax and part
rom the estate of party who had pur-
biased from Lord Fairfax. These par
hases were made in 1773.
There is a tradition that, while the
amily resided upon this place, exposed |
0 the occasional IncursiOns of the In
ians, one OF tho boys was captured and
arred off, that the family went to
AID found the captive in |
be hands of some Indians at Philadel-
hia, who traded him to his parents for a
int of whiskey, after which the reunited
lmily returned to thoir homo on Narrow
a ssage.
He had two sons, George and Philip.
gorge died before his father, in 1915 or
SIG. Philip was a soldier in the Revo-
tionary war. Philip attracted, we have
D doubt, by the excellent water power Of
tony Creek purchased a body OF land on
I'd around tho site of the present town
Edinburg, in which purchase he was
realty assisted by his father.
It was here that the old gunsmlth
Top was located, where were made
rye number of guns for the use of the
. S. soldiers in the war Of 1912. At the
ose of the war, a number of unfinished
lns were on hand which were after
ards finished as there was demand for
lem.
George Grandstaf ST, died at the old
,me place on Narrow Passage, now the
'operty of Nr. Henry uaun. George
Iandstaf, son of Philip, known to the
'esent generation as Major Geo. Grand
aft was the executor of bis grandfather's
III. The old home placs on Narrow
lssage was sold by the executor about
years aSo. From Maj Geo. Grandstaf
id his brothers Philip, John, Benjamin,
nathan, and several sisters descended
e Well known and prominent family of
-anlstalfi, many Of whom still reside at
linblrs but large number possessed
tie cnterpr.sing spirit OF their pro.
nitc.s have, become active aud useful
items Of number of states Of the
niop.