The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-20

There is a certain fine old mansion IN
Nelson county, Va. which, with its sur
rounding estate, has recently acquired
q new interest from becoming the prop
& ertv of Mr.. Thomas f. Ryan, of New
York. who purchased it last winter. Mr.
RYAN was a Nelson boy himself, but
went North somewhere about the recon-
striction period-a time when money was.
by no means plentiful anywhere in the
South. Indeed. there is not TO say The
least. a rstIperabundance of it in Nelson
4 cat1nt,,e NOWADAYS; so when the negroes
Z If The community hear of Mr.. Ryan S
,nany- millions they exclaim in amaze
inert: Lori is he done lef' any mo
money in the wori "
Oak Ridge. his late purchase. is
beautiful estate on the Southern Rail-
road. near the station winch. haSlhs
been known successfully as Nelson sta
tSon. I,oyingston Depot and Montreal, had
its name changed again last year to oak
Ridge after the place. 1t IS the nan
way station between CharlottesNliie ais.
seat Of the University OF Virginia. anu
Lyrchburg. and is some five hours roe
from Washington. Nelson as one OF the
Piedmont counties Of Virginia ana 'le
beautiful Blue Ridge rises about TWEEN
3 ~ miles to Inc west of MIR. Ryan's es-
tate. The whole county is noted for
. beautiful scenery. and that of the portion
in which his purchase lies is particularly
charming.
RIvEs' FAMILY.
Mr. Ryan is not the first celebrity
that Oak Ridge has known. 1t original
" belonged to the Rives' family. the
latest member of which to become prom
iaent in the public eye was the authoress
OF "1'h., Quick or The Dead" Miss Ame-
liza Rives now Princess Troubestkoy. AS
every one doubtless knows. Castle Hill.
In 1sibemarIe county. is her Zone. but
she is a direct descendant of Robert
Iiv.s the founder of Oak Ridge. he
was the wealthy man of the Nelson of
: his generation. owning probably more
landed property than any other man IN
( the county He married a Miss Cabell.
and their son. Vim. Cabell Rives was
distinguished, not only in his native
State. but IN the whole country and held
several positions of honor, serving as
Congressman and Senator and being twice
sent as United States Minister to France.
Another son. Judge Alexander Rives.
was an eminent lawyer. He was, how
ever. unpopular in Virginia. because Of
1,is marked adherence TO the Union dur
ing the secession times. and once his
Is home Mas actually mobbcd. One of the
S Erandsons of Robert Rives was likewise
Pollard, an author and. the associate edi-
tor of the Examiner. the chief news
paper Of Richmond during the Confed-
eracy and noted for the caustic and
scatlling style Of its editorials. Later on
g Mir. Pollard became sole editor; but he
1siet With . tragic fate, being shot from
Z q window as he walked along a street in
Ricflrncld by n young man prominent in
stl?e society of that city. who had been
offended by an article in the Examiner"
MIR. Polerds grave is one of those IN
The cid Oak Ridge burNing-sround.
CAUGHT TIE LEAVES.
The last of the RiVes TO live at Oak
Ridge WAS a maiden lady known far and
wide as Miss Peggy She kept up the
place with such sc.~upulous care that the
story circulated among her peighbors that
in the autumn n stalwart negro woman
wls stationed under every tree in the
yard with apron outstretched to catch
he leaves as they fell, so that they
eright not rest one moment on the care
fulis-swept lawn.
However that might be. it was certain
that her waxed and polished floors We're
dangerous to walk on and that child Wis
ltoss We're requested 10 use handker-
chiefs in handling the shining brass door
knobs.
Colonel Parthe Miles. the next resident
of Oak Ridge had been Confederate Sem
s stiot 1toitl- soouAIi Ssioiiiid &iiiu Edu proved
his faith in the Confederacy by investing
Ills entire fortune in its bonds at a time
when purchasers of them We're extremely
few and far between.
This heroic effort to restore the crc6i.
Of the lost cause" resulted in the loss of
co,eael Miles's fortune, but his wifes
father had purchased Oak Ridge for her
and the family lived there a number Of
years. Then the Miles children inherited
great wealth from an adopted son Of their
maternal grandfather. concerning whom
the following romantic story is told:
One day, when Mr. Birne, the grand
!. father, was riding along by 3 little stream.
4 he heard the cry of an infant and saw. an
unknown baby boy lying all alone on the
bank. lie took It home with him, and.
Ga no xane eyer. srnesa rad te. ,i.i,,. -.