The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-11-04

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TUCKAHoE AS 1T APPEARS AT PRES
ENT.
lutionary battletields, from New Eng
land to Georgia, the bones of the Puri-
tan and the Cavalier lie side by side.
1t is generally conceded that in Vir-
ginia we find the highest type of the
Cavalier, while in Massachusetts, we
find the highest type of the Puritan.
The gentlemen of Virginia are very
much alike, whether they are found
in the city, on the farm, or travelling
abroad. No nation, and no province of
any nation, produces more perfect
gentleman than the gentleman of Vir-
ginia. He is always gentle, and always
man. He is not only respectful, but
he is reverent in the presence Of lady:
and no knight errant ever drew sword
quicker, or more bravely welded a
trenchant blade in defense of honor and
virtue than the Virginian in defense OF
woman.
This place, Tuckahoe, is one of the
oldest and best-preserved country
places in Virginia; and it was the home
Of one of the grandest of Virginia gen.
tlemen, more than 200 years ago. When
William Randolph made his home here
in the latter part of the seventeenth CEN
fury there was tribe of Indians rang
ing along the river and out into the
mountains called the Tuckahoe tribe;
and that quaint name was taken by Will
liam Randolph for his home, and it has
borne that name until this day.
Richmond, on the James, was only
frontier settlement $50 years ago;
and only the most hardy and brave
men of that day ventured so far from
the mouth Of the river in it's confluence
with the sea. But William Randolph
went II miles west Of Richmond, away
out on the western frontier,' and be-
came wealthy and prosperous planter.
The Indians were his friends because
his dealings with them were honora BILE;
and they appreciated that fact.
In the year 1850 William Randolph
be gan the erection of Tuckahoe man
sion, for. his son Thomas, and COM
Pleted it early in the year 1000. Previ-
GUS to that date no frame dwelling had
ever been erected west of Richmond
Tuckahoe mansion was constructed, as
all things were done in those good old
days, with view to permanency. 1t
stands to-day as the best specimen of
colonial architecture in the Old Domin-
ion, and is in a fairly good state of
preservation. If William Randolph
could come back to earth, and wanted
to begin housekeeping again in Tuck
ahoc mansion, he could make it as good
as new, with but slight expenditure of
time and money. His estate consisted
of all the land west of Richmond; and
it is known that he could farm clear
back to the mountains, that barrier of
nature alone fixing limit to the
amount of land which he was entitled
to possess and develop.
The owner of this princely domain
selected the most beautiful site in the
whole land for the mansion. Very
many years afterwards George Wash
ington, who visited every part of the
colony, complimented the Randolphs
upon their mansion, and particularly
upon it's site. There is nothing in all
Virginia so beautiful except Mount
Vernon; and that mansion stands upon
a bluff upon the Potomac river, just. as
Tuckahoe stands upon bluff above the
James river. Mount Vernon and Tuck
ahoe are upon commanding eminences,
and the mansions are surrounded by
oaks, elms, hickories and other in
dlgenous trees, all of them of splendid
foliage. From Tuckahoe to Richmond
is only II miles. From Mount Vernon
to Washington is only IA miles. This
coincidence has never before been print
ed nor commented upon.
One of the, to me, most beautiful
spots in this mansion, and one of the
most beautiful in the world, is little
bit OF mark of appreciation and pride.
Very few men and very few women
manifest full appreciation of good deeds
done. But. away back there in the past
Thomas Randolph showed his apprecia-
ton OF his fathers affection, and also his
pride in the name that he bore. In one
of the old-fdshioned windows, upon one
of the old-fashioned panes of glass.
Thomas Randolph, with diamond,
scratched his name, and there it stands
to-day: Thomas Randolph, $685." |
have often wondered what thoughts
were passing through his mind when
be took the ring on his finger and there
erected a permanent monument to him
self and to his family.
Thomas Randolph had a son named
William, after his father who builded
the mansion and owned unlimited land.
That son William made the first parti-
ton, when he caused to be placed on
record deed in which he grants, bar
gains and sells to his cousin, Peter JEFF
ferson, certain parcels of land lying on
the north side of the North Anna, in the
county of Goochland, together with all
houses, orchards, gardens, fences,
woods, ways, ct cetera, appertaining to
the same, in consideration of one of
Henry Weatherburn's biggest bowls of
Arrack punch"
That was the first partition of the
magnificent estate; and it has been ru-
mored that one of those bowls. of Ar
rack punch had something to do with