Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-01-05
An Old Spectator.

| ~AAAs u AOs NJ - esNRcOAs VI "a ~ 1Ao.
has forwarded us a copy of IHI
lSPECTAToR published July End
1856, when the paper was under the
editorial management Of Messrs. J. A
and l.. Waddell. Jr. The paper is in
teresting. 1t carries US back to oul
boyhood days when we first knew
Staunton and recalls the names Of the
merchants and lawyers and business
men then living here, the first we ever
knew. The Augusta boys who had
just graduated fromthe Universityand
various schools were: D. W. Hanger,
Marshall Hanger, J. N. Craig, Robt.
T. Massie. Chas. H. Withrow. Geo. M
King and B. B. Stuart. Millard Fill
more and Andrew Jackson Donaldson
were the Whig candidates for Presi-
dent and Vice-President. "Squatter
Sovereignty" was an issue In politics
and is ably discussed in the editorial
columns. We thank our friend and
return him the Fluctuations of the sea.
son he SO cordially sent US.
The above named paper was shown
to the Rev. Job Turner and especially
an allusicn to him. He became much
interested in it, and has handed us
the following reminiscent statement:
l arrived here in heavy snow-storm
on the 14th OF December, 1889, the snow
being about two feet deep.
This place was then a considerable
village.
will tell you what / know from
THE SPECTATOR of July 2, 1856. Only
wish I could tell you as many facts
as know. feel very sad to think
or find that almost all old faces which
saw in and around Staunton have
disappeared. Those who are kindly
spared to Staunton, Va, are Messrs.
David A. Kayser, J. A. Waddell, Mike
McAleer and few others.
notice the names of a good many
persons in THE SPECTATOR. Among
themMiilard Fillmore He called on the
institution with Commodore Skinner,
DIR. Stribling and Mr.. Corcoran, the
Washington millionaire, who after
wards presented fine organ to the
Western Lunatic Asylum.
Andrew Jackson Donaldson. saw
him at the law-off1ce of the late Will
liam Kinney, who owned the mansion
where DR.. A. NJ. Henkel resides. Mr..
Donaldson came from long distance
to see Mr.. Kinney on law business.
1t was the Staunton SPECTATOR
which caused me to turn an old line
Wing. l cast the first presidential
vote for Hon. Henry Clay, then Gen.
Winfield Scott, and lastly Gen. Zachary
Taylor.
l remember that Henry Clay stopped
at the Eagle Hotel, then kept by Capt.
McClung on his way to the White
Sulphur Springs and that John C. CAL
houn. of South Carolina, stopped at
the Washington Tavern, then kept by
Lewis Harman, ,afterwardsthe Virginia
Hotel, run by J. D. Crowle, Sr.
oflen saw in the United States Sem
ate chamber: John Stevenson, of Ken
lucky, (Speaker), Lewis Cass, Edward
Everett, Silas Wright, of New York,
John G. Calhoun, Daniel Webster,
Henry Clay, Thomas Benton and a
number of other great statesmen. 1t
makes me feel very sad to think that
death has taken them all out of the
Hall.
recollect the name of John n. Tim
berlake, railroad man or contractor:
His name appears in the paper
N. K. Trout, whose name appears
in the paper as commissioner for sale,
was well known as a good caricature.
Thomas J. Niche and James H.
Skinner had formed partnership for
the practice of law, sc.
I believe that George E. Price NOV.
ed here from Winchester in 1S44-5 and
opened the first hardware store at the
corner OF Main and New streets, where
the late J. B. Breckinridge used tc
keep grocery store. He opened the
first grocery store.
I recall the names OF Jas. A. Coch-
ran (decd), George Baylor, John D.
Trlmble, John D. Sterrett, Deakin,
and Merritt, Kayser, Stribling s. Co.
Robert Cowan, John Brandeburg, Pip
er q Funkhouser, Harman s. Browns
new stage line, Hilb, Laird, A.D.Trot-
ter, (stage), j. B. Eskrldge, son of Ma
jor Eskridge, steward D. D. s. B. In
stitution. and brother of W. c. Esk
ridge, teller Valley Bank.
| The newspapers were: American
Farmer; Staunton SPECTATOR, Harper
q Calhoun; Republican, Mauzy; Vim
dicator. V. E. Geiger & Lynn.