Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-23
"OLD SHORT GRASS"
Entertaining Memories Of Early Days in
Hanover County.
RELIGION AND HOSPITALITY.
Noted Churches and Their Attend-
ants--Family seats-EIder Carter
of the Wnr-A Joke on the Writer.
CwrItten for the DispatchD

Nou publish my productions and old
friends pat me on the back and feed me
on tany, ! will continue to write on old
times in Hanover. The fact is. ! lived
in Alabama twelve years, among the
kindest people / ever knew, but was
homesick all the time, and now that the
malaria and homesickness are gone l
must try to catch up with what missed
in spite Of the daily reading Of the Dis
patch. all these years.
''The Life and Times Of William 5.
White. II. D." a book published by
the presbyterian Committee" of your
city. gives a graphic sketch Of the state
Of society at the date Of his birth and
boyhood at Beaver Dam. A change for
the better had revoluticnized the society
In the days Of my boyhood. There was
more religion and less horse-racing' drink
ing, and gambling. The Whites and the
Sydnors were 10th descended from the
family Of Starke, and while the Whites
were generally Presbyterians, the Sydnors
were and are to this day saturated win
under the water" Rev. DR.. Thomas
". Sydnor, one of the best men j ever
knew. was a first cousin of DIT. whites
and for years the most intimate COM
panion Of the late DIR. Theodorick Pryor.
OF Nottowsy Courthouse.
Rut the same state of brotherly love
existed in our neighborhood. We attended
Pole Green one Sunday, and Bethesda the
next. until Walnut Grove was erected
and then we attended that church. From
Walnut Grove the distant worshippers
stopped at our house or with other nelgh-
bors for dinner. The meal was ai"ass
cold and topped off with sweet-potalo
! pies and milk or cider While the one,
people were dining we boys white anu
! black. rode the visitors horses 10 water
| and. I am ashamed to say. had many
| secret race up the hill to the stable. My
! brotber-in-law always called Hanover
"old short-grass." and it must be con-
| fesged that the COWS were not short-horns'
| our county poet MIR. Dick Johnson on
| looking at my fathers herd. eXtempOriZed
| this couplet-
stiff before and lame behind.
| zone eve out. and the other blind
| Not very poetic in sentiment. this, but
| true to nature In spite Of all the care
| lees and thriftless farming. the hospi-
! tality and neighborly goodwill IKE
| charity covered multitude or sins. Inc
| older members OF the different churcheS
| were so firmly fixed in their respective
beliefs that they did not waste time IN
useless discussions. and could AFFORD 10
| be tolerant toward each others consclen-
! tious convictions.
THE OLD HOMES.
have written of Beaver Dam. Laurel
Meadow. Meadow Farm. All the promi-
nent places of the section were known
| by historic names. / cannot recall them
! all But Fairfield was the home OF MI
| Miles Macon, and was afterwards the
home Of william s. Oyerton, Esq. Mr..
! Macon also owned the famous mill
| Gaines's Mill-it was called Macon's MIL
By the negroes "Meekin's MIL, which
no doubt, gave Or. Blgby the name tor
! "Meekinfcs Twinses.' 1he home OF Ut.
| Gaines was known as Powhite ana that
! of Dr. Curtis as Puccoon. There were
! also such names as Rose Cottage, and
! Mr. r. W. Powers married Miss juliet
/ Carleton at the cottage.
The eldest son Of Mr.. Macon, Dr. W. IT.
Macon. married the eldest daughter or
Mr.. Carter BraXton. who lived near the
Pamunkey. below the Old church. Miles
Jr.. and Toby, ae we called him. were
schoolmates of mine. and 50 were the
daughters OF the house.
ARISTOCRATS.
The great author of THE Genesis OF the
United States says that my ancestors
belonged. not to the nobility, but the
! gentry Of England, and one OF them
married william Cabcll, ST., whose de-
scendant has our "coat-of-arms.' | have
never seen II. but was glad 20 nave my
own impression confirmed that my peo-
ule did not belong TO the noDiilty, lot
The nobility were a scurvy set about the
time Of the restoration, when some OF
them, perhaps. LETT thelr country ioi '"OH
couutry's good.
Rut there were aristocrats Of the
genuine stuff in Hanover. and one OF
these was Mr. Carter BraXton. lie was
nv boyish ideal of an aristocrat. Ills
arrival at Pole Green brought a couftF
covalcade. wife and daughters. in car
| riages and buggies, he following In a
suIky with an Outrider on horseback'
who, with ebony skin and pearly teeth'
was prouder than his master; lor' u'Iuv'
all that naughty exterior, the tan.
straight. stately Mr.. BraXton would call
nv father his brother and pat my mead
| with a fatherly touch Of Kindness.
lie wore a long blue cloak. with SILVER
clasp. and sat in an old oak chair In the
centre CT the aisle. As the services ad-
vanced nc would stretch out ms long
limbs throw his head back. ana Close
his eyes. as il 10 drink in the water Oh
life But we youngsters thought MS atl,
tude most too restful for meditation ana
thought he might be asleep.
one day a small terrier came in unDll-
den and unwelcome, and there was some
thing SO peaceful and calm In the good
mans reVerential pose that ne seateu
himself at Mr. BraXton's feet. and with
erect ears studied his classic features.
litter from some irrevcrent boy or girl
startled the worshipper. and Mr.. l}raNtoh
kicked at the dog. but missed him, ana
again relapsed into sober contemplation
of the theme OF discourse Mr. Osborn.
taking in the situation. adroitly brought
into his sermon the case Of Lychcus. ana
sharply and pointedly said: 80. You see
my brethren, they even slept under Paul $
preaching" In moment the tall form OF
his faithful elder was erect, and he never
winked his eve TO the close.
That chair reminds me Of another,
which had come down from the days OK
Samuel Davies. 1t was the study-chalr
Of Mr.. Davies himself IL had arms
clrcling around three corners OF the seat
and belonged TO a descendant or the
family. Rev Or Y. ID. Mitchell had II
upholstered and placed 1t in the pulpit
of his church I'm Lynchburg. For SIX
wears | sat in II. but longed in vain Tor
some inspiration to come from MT.
Davies.
DESOLATION
II WAS my sad fortune to encounter du-