Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-16
THE EASTERN SHORE.
VACANCY IN EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIR
CUT AND THE CANDIDATES.
DIR. Bowdoin and the Board of Fish
eries-DeathI OF Kendall Jester, an
Aged Citizen with Many Descend
ants.
ants.

ONANCOCk, VA, February l5.-tSpe-
cial)-Much interest Is felt throughout
the Eastern Shore In the result OF the
contest now going on I'm the General AS
sembly for the judgeship of the Eighth
Circuit. Everybody here desires to see
the Hon. j. w. G. Blackstone elected 10
succeed the lamenteG Judge Gunter.
Judge Blackstone is regarded as one Of
the brightest and best equipped young
lawyers In Virginia, and his friencs ana
admirers feel assured that as Judge OF
this circuit he would make an envIable
reputation. A number of persons from
this town and from other sections Of the
Eastern Shore left this morning for
Richmond to advocate the claims of Ac-
comac's talented son.
In the event OF Judge Blackstones
elevation to the circuit bench. there will
be number Of candidates for the coun-
ty judgeship Of Accomac. Among those
who have been mentioned for this latter
position are Samuel T. Ross, John A.
Bundick, Thomas b. Quinby. George +.
Parramore, James II. Fletcher, Jr., and
Hon. John w. ii. Parker.
BOARD OF FISHERIES.
It is reported that DR.. John W. Bow
doin. of Accomac. will be a candidate for
chairman of the Board of Fisheries. soon
to be appointed by Governor Tyler. For
the past four years DR.. Bowdon has
been Commissioner of Fisheries for Yir-
ginia, and az such has acquired much
valuable knowledge about oyster cul-
ture He has, moreover, been chairman
of the Democratic party In Accomac
since 1886. and has given freely OF his
time his talents, and his means to main
tain the supremacy of the Democratic
party in Accomac. He is a man of the
strictest integrity and most undsunted
courage, and may always be relied on TO
do his duty without regard 10 conse-
quences.
News comes from Chincoteague of the
recent death OF Kendall Jester. In the
S5th year OF his age Uncle Ken" as
he was Familiarity called by his friends
and neighbors, had for many years been
regarded as the patriarch of the island
and the repository of it's legendary his
tory. His memory ran back to the time
when there were scarcely a dozen houses
on the island, and when its inhabitants
haG 10 send to the mainland for a doc
tor 10 cure their complaints and minis
ter of the Gospel TO perform the mar
riage ceremony, to bury the dead, or az
minister spiritual consolation. He al
ways had the largest drove OF ponies on
the island. and his familiar figure was
always 10 be seen on pony-penning lays
when he was interviewed by the news
paper reporters, TO whom he gave
literally Of his stock of island lore and
tradition. Some years ago a picture OF
the old man, mounted on one OF his IA
vorlte ponies, ornamented page IN
Harper's Magazine. a distinction ol
which he was very proud. AT the time
of his death ne ha0 perhaps the most
numerous progeny of any man IN VIZ
ginia. his children, grandchildren, and
Observation-Disclosures numbering one hum
dred and sixty-two souls. He was fond
of telling how his father made salt from
sea-water during the war of lSl2-l5. and
sold II In Baltimore for 81 per bushel.
REMOVAL OF COUNTY COURT.
The people Of Northampton are greatly
agitated over the efforts now making 10
have the county seat moved from East
Vile to Cape Charles City. a counter
movement has been started to have the
neople of the county vote to appropriate
20 OOo of the glebe fund to the enlarge
rnent and Improvement of the present
court-house: but the advocates OF re-
moval are clamoring for "A special act CT
the Assembly to permit the legally
qualified voters Of the county 10 vote on
the proposition to remove the court
house TO Cape Charles. Those opposing
the removal of the courthouse cohtenu
that if the question is to be submitted
TO the people, only freeholders snail DE
permitted to vote, while the advocates OF !
removal contend that all the legaiiy-
qualified voters should have a voice In
the matter. The county newspapers are
engaged i'm a spirited fight on the ques-
ton, and the lhulcaliohs poi"' ~ N'"'
times ahead
The improvements recently made In the
town of Onancock. and the prospect OF
others to be made in the near future, are
causing an influx of population. Two
tailoring establishments Will be set up
here during the coming week, anC
bakery is already In full blast.
LETTERS OF ENQUIRY.
Iettars are received here almost every
week from persons in the far Northwest
asking about the price OF lands and the
nature of soil and climate OF this region.
some of these letters say that hundreds
Of industrious farmers would migrate
from the colo regions of the Northwest
10 virginia II they could be assured OF
being able to get lands at reasonable
rates and of receiving hospitable Wei
come.
DIR. Frederick A. Powell. who has been
visiting his mother and sisters i'm Oman
cock. has returned to his home, In sioux
City. Ia. ,-,.
Miss Nellie Scott of Eastville, Is visit |
ing her sister, Mrs George Fred. heiiy' |
In Onancoek
The Richmond papers, thanks to the ell
forts of the Dispatch. now reaen Oha"-
cock fully eight hours earlier than mere
tofore.
vnNEC VNnICTEn-