The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-06-07

fork of Spring creek, Oh the farm Of
George Hunt, in Prince Edward cOun-
IS, there stands "A log house, known ~
old Dublin, which, from the best au-
thentlcaled accounts, must be- all of $50
years old Captain Josiah Cunning
nam, who was one of the oldest cit-
zens In the vicinity of Darlington
Heights, said to the writer ln the year
of 1866, that the history Of this house
had been handed down to him through
several generations, and that % Was
then at least rs years old.
The logs are of oak and chestnut, and
are today apparently IN "a good state
of preservation As they were more than
fifty years ago, when the writer first
saw. them The rafters are very stout
and roughly heWn of oak timber. The
nails used i'm its construction were
forged out in some blacksmith shop.
IL Is not known who first settled this
place, but We have record of the fact
that in the year 1915 II was owned and
occupied 10y Mr.. George Booker, who
was twice married; first with a Miss
Watson and second with Miss Gun
ningham, who was the mother of Miss
Rochelle Booker, who on The 9th day
of March, 1915, was married IA this
house to Mr.. Branch }. M0rsham,
man of fine sense, "A true type of the
old Virginia gentleman, and who most
/ efficiently served the good people OF
! Prince Edward a. Clerk of the county
courts for thirty years. Oltenumes Mr.
/ M0rsham's advice was sought in legal
matters, and was gratuitousy and
courteously given, provided the petit
toner did not approach him when he
was officially engaged; If he did this,
he was made to get farther Some
years later old Dublin property was
possessed by Mr.. Richard Booker, sou
of George Booker. Mr. Richard Booker
was the father of George W Booker,
who was Prince Edwards popular
Sheriff for quite awhile, and afterwards
became tobacconist in the town OF
Farm, ille
Mr.. Richard Booker was large land
owner, and II was he who attached the
name Of Dublin to this place and to
other farms-some Scotch, as well as
Irish names Some years later Mr.
Newton Gun ingham purchased Dub
lin from Mr.. Richard Booker, and there
spent the early part Of his married
life
Early IN the liflies some Of Mr. Gun
ningham's friends prevailed ON him to
announce himself "a candidate for the
Office Of Sheriff, in opposition to the
popular Henry b. Bughtwell, who
then held that Office, and had again
announced his name as candidate for
the same position The race was a
close one. Both candidates, together
with some of the warm friends of each,
made "A thorough canvass Of the whole
county, seeing every voter.
When the election came of there
was discrepancy Of only three votes.
Each candidate was afraid 70 contest
for the Office. So finally, they agreed
to share the Office jointly Cunning
ham was sworn in as Sheriff and
Brightwell as Deputy These two men
held this position until Nr. Cunning
bins death, which occurred In 1861,
which event brought sorrow To all of
the good people of Prince Edward; ior
better man never lived than Newton
Cunningham.
And last, but not least, Of my men
ton: In old Dublin was Graded Mr.
William Francis Drinkard, who be-
came widely known and highly
esteemed throughout Virginia. If the
writer is correctly informed, Mr. Drink
ard, when a mere boy, served an ap
premiership with some newspaper edl'
tor in the town of Farmville, proving
himself to be very apt for one Of hi'
age.
Mr.. Drinkard grew up IN the journal
lstic work, was gifted conversation
alist and one whose ailable, courteous
manner would natural y endear hin
to all with whom ne was brought n
contact. Prior to the war between th'
States he edited paper in Fairmont
Marion county now West Virginia.
called the Farmont True irginian
, When the question of war was beinl
agitated in every paper both North an'
, South. an editorial appeared i'm Nh
Drinkard's paper, in which he avoW
eddy espoused himself with the South
ern Cause. This fired up the Federal
, In that section, and the first regimen
who entered that town made an eiloi
to capture the editor of that popula
little paper, but Mr.. Drinkard mad
good escape, leaving his family for lh
> time within ;he Federal lines. 500
4 after this, some friend sent his iamil
10 him in Richmond, where he speI
the remainder of his life.
, During the war, If the writer mn
takes not, Mr.. Drnkard held some IN
portant position in the Confedera