Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-27
VIRGINIA SKETCHES.
The Highly Romantic Story Of The
Ragged Mountains.
MILLER KANUAL-LADOR SCHOOL.
Early Life and Struggles Of It's Founder
His Gifts to Institutions-A
Weird Valley.
Correspondence of the plspatch.)

county has a great advantage over her
that in the Miller Manual Labor School
she has a "West Point Academy to pre-
pare her sons and daughters for the war
OF life In the twenty-ffth provision OF
Samuel Miller's will are found these
words concerning the school which bears
his name: ITO be superintended by a
competent teacher or teachers, wherein,
at all times. there shall be fed. clothed,
| and instructed in all the branches Of a
good, plain, sound English education. the
various languages. both ancient and
modern. agriculture. and the useful arts,
and wholly free of expense to the pupils as
many poor, orphan children or other white
children whose parents shall me unable
to educate them Ohe said orphans and
other children being residents Of Abe
marle) as the profits and income of the
funds herein devised and bequeathed
will admit Of"
Samuel Miler's history Is highly ro-
mantle. He was born in almost extreme
poverty in log cabin upon the top Of
one OF the ragged mountains of Abe
marie. on the 30th day OF June, 1882. His
mother-Ginnie Miiler-was a weaver, and
lived about two miles from the Miller
School. Sam had only one brother. His
name was John. While yet a boy Sam
made his first money by picking wool
from the briers left by straylng sheep on
the very ground where to-day stand the
grand buildings of the school OF his gift
to Albemarle. and some of the bricks
that now crown one OF the best equipped
machine-shops devoted TO industrial train
Ing in the United States he assisted in
making at ten cents a day. Their
mother would often weave striped sus-
penders and give them TO John and Sam
TO rattle at musters. shows. and elections.
In this way they early acquired taste
for speculation.
GOING TO SCHOOL.
They went TO school to Mr.. William
Black, about three miles from their
home. Their mother was in reduced cir
cumstances, and would often force them
down the mountain side through the frost
and over the frozen ground in their bare
feet 10 school
They were boys OF quick perception.
and as young men taught school in Abe
burg soon after he was grown and COM
menced speculating in tobacco. When he
died in 1Sil he left Sam the bulk OF his
fortune. amounting to about 100000 Sam.
who had been a partner Of his brother,
continued the business and shipped large
quantities of tobacco TO Liverpool and
Italy.
PERSONAL PROPERTY.
1t is said that he failed twice. but when
he died, on the 9th of March, 1862 at his
residence, in Campbell county. Va, aged
76 years months and days, the in
ventory OF his personal property amount
ed to N,7s9.7S9.4. Mr.. Miller. in his will,
made a gift Of s151,o00 to the Lynchburg
Female Orphan Asylum. which he had al
ready endowed before his DEATH He
made his gift 10 the Miller School so large
that simply the income is used for ex-
penses. The University Of Virginia Is
indebted to Mr.. Miller for a gift Of $lOO.-
co. In addition to what he did for the
cause of education. he provided lib rally
for his relatives and those who cared for
him and proved true TO him through
long years of friendship. The Miller
School this session has on it's roll 165
boys, 96 girls 20 teachers, and about 80
other employees. The annual expenses
average $4,000.
THE FORT VALLEY.
In Shenandoah county, the northern
part OF Massanutten mountain forks and
encloses valley about twenty-five miles
long and on an average, perhaps, two
miles wide. An ideal summer-day several
years ago, ! left picturesque Luray. and
on horseback crossed the Shenandoah at
the ferry on the pike leading to New
Market At the ferry I turned north
ward. and rode about four miles between
the river and In,
ing westward. / began the ascent of the
mountain by bridle-path. which finally
became so steep that | dismounted and
led my horse to the top.
The sun had just fallen asleep in the
cradle Of the West. and as l rode down
into the valley at its southern extremity
the shadows began to lengthen. Soon
the dew-drop was kissing the cloyer-blos-
SONS crimson lips; the wheel at the little
old-fashioned grist-miil near the head
waters of the principal stream Of The
Fort had ceased its turning for the day;
IN the twilight the beams from kero-
ssne-iamp begin TO peep through the
green shutters OF little white cottage.
ana there as the FURNISHED dove cooed
Itself to rest, l buckled my brldle-rein
TO an overhanging limb, and to the words
OF wslcome-"Come in. stranger"-I step
ped across the threshold of that Swiss
Ike home. l would that I could remem-
Der the name of the old gentleman. who.
IKE Abraham Of we olden-time presided
over HIS household. The next morning
! was early in the saddle, and as / rode
through that lovely valley, with its
mountain barrier on the right and
twin barrier on the left, l not only
thought or but felt like "Rass las in
the Happy Valley" peculiar and weird
feeling came over me- and l almost i'm
aSlned that | was not on the earth where
l had been born. For two days | looked
upon the scenes OF that strange land
but kept continually longing for the out
slde world, and when at last / passed !
through defils just wide enough for q /
single carriage, and rode toward Riverton.
the unearthly sensation left me. and / /
became myself again.
HOWITZER INCIDENT.
In November, 1864, when Early and
oherldah exchanged courtesles at the |
battle OF Strasburg, Mr.. Joe Williams OF |
the Second Company OF Richmond How !
itzers, was saot through both legs with a |
mlnie-ball. His comrades, Joe Maxey. |
or Amelia Ca.so OF the same company, |
and Il. Herndon Fife, Charles G. Sin |
clair. and John Riley, each Of Chariottes- |
vile, not caring TO accept entertainment !
at the hands of Sheridan, decided 10 take /
the wounded brave beyond the reach Of I
SABRE ana smell. The i've belonged to !
Colonel William Il. Cutshaw's Battalion, |
and as they were accustomed to tramp /
Ing, they did not obtain an adequate 1
supply Of horses when they started of |
with Joe. They had only two horses and I
OF course gave their wounded comrade 1
one OF them They crossed from Stras-
burg 10 the Fort valley by way OF the /
signal Post" which was located on the /
extreme northwestern point OF the Mas |
sanutten. This Signal Post" was used |
by both armies. according as Mars fa-
vored the one or the other. The steep I
brldle-path was worn so deep in the I
mountain side that Joe's foot would strike !
the projecting rocks and earth as they /
rode slowly along. and 50 great was his
pain that Williams repeatedly cried our:
"For Gods sake, put me down in the
iyies here and let me dle!'
Ills comrades. however, carried him
down into the Fort valley and left him
at the home OF Mr.. Adam Ridenhour
Five houses just north of where Williams
lay wounded were burned by Federals In
retaliation for some of their men being
shot near the mouth OF the Fort. but
after reaching that point they feared to
10 fa H. I