Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-09-05
A Yisit to charles Town. ". Va.
lcor. Rockbridge County News.l


full impressions which the place made on
me on the occasion of my first visit We're
strengthened and confirmed on the sec
ond. Surrounded on all sides by broad
and fertile acres and in the midst of fine
agricultural and farming section of the
country that has no superior in either of
the Virginias, it has. as may be readily
imagined, many decided and positive adj
vantages.
Charles Town in the main, however,
derives its principal Importance from the
fact that it was founded and established
by Charles Washington, brother of the
general, and the only brother who settled
west of the Blue Ridge
There is said to be within short dis
lance of Charles Town cave, and tradi-
ton says that-on several occasions the
Masonic fraternity met here and werepre-
sided over by the Father of his Country.
The old Carter House referred to in
Howe's History of Virginia is still stand
ing, and seems to be doing fair business.
Charles Town has also acquired addi-
tional prominence and notoriety from the
further fact that it was the scene of the
trial and execution of that misguided old
fanatic, John Brown, which latter event
occurred December ?, 1889, under the
immediate supervision of the brilliant but
eccentric Henry A. Wise. at that time
governor of Virginia. The place of the
execution is not exactly known, but it is
supposed to be at or near the residence of
Colonel Gibson, which I may remark in
passing is one of the finest in the town.
The record of the trial is in the circuit
court clerks office, and l am indebted to
Mr.. Daniel, the clerk of that court, for
the privilege of reading it. The instruc-
tious to the jury. as given by Judge Par
ter. the trial judge, were, am told. chief
ly the work of the late Hon. Daniel w.
Voorhees,. The old courthouse in which
the trial took place is still standing on
the same site, though OF late years the
building itself has undergone extensive
changes and alterations.
A short while ago it was seriously con-
templated by the friends and admirers of
John Brown to erect to his memory a
monument on the site of the place used
and occupied by him at Harper's Ferry
as fort, but the projectors of the scheme
We're quietly notified by the people of JEFF
ferson that such step would meet with
great disfavor and it was finally aban-
doned
The county of Jefferson, as well as the
adjoining county of Berkeley, although in
the State of West Virginia, are to all
practical intents and purposes Virginia
counties. Sentimental considerations.
as well as business and social relations,
strongly operate to keep in close intimacy
these two counties with the rest of the
Old Dominion, and belive that if the
question could ever be submitted to a
popular vote the counties of Jefferson
and Berkeley would in an unmistakable
manner declare their allegiance to Vir-
ginia
For small place Charles Town has
quite a number of fine residences with
large and handsome lawns attached,
ornamented by beautiful shade trees,
flowers and slrubbery. Without an ex-
ception, as far as.I could see, they all APP
peared to be we'll kept and in excellent
condition. Among the residences re-
ferred to may be mentioned those of Col
onel r. P. Chew, w. II. Travers, decd,
Hon. William L. Wilson, w. o. Norris,
Esq, George Baylor, Esq, and the Hon.
Forrest w. Brown.
The mayor of the town is Mr.. George
Washington. collateral descendant of
General George Washington had the
plasure of meeting him, and I fancied l
saw in his open and handsome face a
resemblance to the authentic por-
traits of his illustrious and distinguished
kinsman. He is young man of high
standing and character in the community
and makes hi; native town a most excel
lent chief magistrate.
The business that carried me to this
place brought me in contact with the
clerks Office of the county court, where
was shown many courtesies by the genial
and affable clerk, Mr.. w. f. Alexander.
l do not remember to have ever been in
a clerks office where the records are
better or more systematically kept than
they are here, The system of indexing
as it prevails in this Office cannot be sur
passed, and the work incident to the ex-
animation of titles in consequence relieved
of a grea deal of drudgery.
Charles Town is one of the very few
places that seems to have been benefited
by that stupendous wave of folly which
swept over the whole country during
what is popularity called the Boom pc
Rod" As a result of those exciting and
memorable days, four or five industries.
which were then planted, are in success
full operation. The large, attractive and
well-built hotel which was then erected
has now about 1875 guests, among whom
may be mentioned Mr.. Stockton. the cell
ebrated fiction writer; Hon. George r.
Vending, the noted orator and lecturer.
and General Armstrong, who served so
CALAMITY under General N. B. Forrest.
One of the inconvenience to which
this place is subjected arises from the
similarity of the names, Charleston and
Charles Town, and this Inconvenience is
greater than an outsider would at first
suppose. a petition was recently sent to
the authorities of Charleston proposing to
change the name of that place toKanawha.
but twas rejected, and the confusion and
annoyance is likely to be perpetuated un-