Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-10-18
Letter from Middlesex County.


DEAR COURIER: Suffer few lines
from a pilgrim of the dear old coun-
ty of Clarke. My present home is
the county-seat of Middlesex, about
four miles south of the Rappahan
mock river. This county was until
April, 1922. part of Lancaster,
which now graces the northern bank
of the Rsppshannock and parallels
Middlesex to the Chesapeake Bay.
This is the old home of the Hon. A.
j. Montague, our esteemed Attorney
General, and from Saluda my father
In the faith and ministry, Rev. Ju-
liam Broaddus, moved to Berryville
in or about 1888. He is still in the
hearts of this noble people whom he
served number of years. The men
ton of his name reminds me of
story in this section. A couple with
marriage in the eve went to Mr..
Broaddus to be joined in the holy
bonds of wedlock. After the cere-
mony had been performed the groom,
with as graceful bow as he could
command, said: "I'm much obliged
to you, sir; I'll do as much for You
some timer
We are in the heart of the great
oyster industry of the State, and it is
in this section that ''oysters grow ON
trees" This is often secuted as a
"tall story, but it is true. The oys-
ter, like fish, spawns and the spawn
strikes" on any rough surface with
which it comes in contact, and there
the oyster develops. Sometimes it is
the case that branches of trees or
bushes bend over into the water and
furnish a convenient striking place
for the spawn. Hence, the above ex-
preston, and the statement you pub
lished some months ago about oysters
growing on plate of artificial teeth
| asked Capt Nelson, the gentleman
referred TO in the statement. about
the matter and he assured me that
the statement was true.
Wheat is raised here. but on a small
scale. Corn is the larger crop of the
two. aud the present yield is good.
Next TO the oyster industry stands
trucking One man grew several
acres of Irish potatoes last year and
cleared "A thousand dollars on them.
One sees field after field of tomatoes.
green peas, watermelons. caDtaloupcs
and cucumbers In season. and il mnSt
not be forgotten that this Is one Of
the homes of the sweet potato. Con
siderable attention Is given to hav
and some farmers mske this their
chief crop. The "no-fence law" in
dictates how we stand on the cattle
question. aud sometimes we are in
clined To think the COW has not got
ten over the moon. as beef is So high
at this writing.
The chief article of fuel is Mid
dlesex hickory, viz, pine; though
chestnut, oak, poplar, maple and cy-
press abound. Large quantities of
pine are shipped to Northern mar
kets by the many vessels that ascend
our rivers and many of the stately
pines are cut for piling. Some Of
length. For conveyance to the river,
where raft is formed and towed by
tug to market, the larger end Of a
pile is placed between the two de-
tached front rows of "A wagon while a
carry-log, or sort of skeleton cart,
supports the other end.
! had the pleasure of nv fathers
company the first part of the week.
But Judging from the fact that the
Steamers supply of oysters gave out
before Urbanna wharf was reached
and more had TO be secured there we
were led to conclude that his appe-
tite for the bivalves had not dimin-
ished since his trip to Tidewater last
spring, though it may be that the
presence of Mr.. w. J. Phillips, of
derby hat, candy, and pie fame. had
something to do with the early ex-
haustion of the oyster supply.
am now on field comprising two
Baptist churches-Clark's Neck at
Saluda, aud Poroporone at Centre
Vile, King and Queen county, twelve
miles distant, near the old home of
Thomas j. Cluyerius. | preach at
the former second and fourth sun
DAYS, at the latter first and third
twice each Sunday except fourth
Sunday night when the young people
meet at Saluda. I am in the midst
of fine people, noted for the old
fashioned Virginia hospitality. Our
mutual friend, Capt. John r. Num-,
who, by the way, is native of King
and Queen county, can tell you about
the people more than !.
Rev. w. b. Lee lives at Gloucester
G. H., twenty miles away, and is
much beloved by the people among
whom he lives and works.
am personally acquainted with
Rev. B. Cabell Hening, who is to as
siSt Rev milan Rrooddu i'm a ,,,.ot